Key facts
- Abdul Nabizada, 36, a former translator for the British Army in Afghanistan, was jailed for seven years for raping a teenage taxi passenger.
- The assault occurred in November 2021 when Nabizada took the intoxicated 19-year-old victim to a secluded area near Edinburgh.
- Nabizada seized the victim's phone and touched her body before raping her.
- The victim escaped and reported the incident to friends.
- Judge John Morris KC called the act a 'crime of opportunism' and highlighted the victim's vulnerability.
- Nabizada, who has indefinite leave to remain in the UK, expressed concern about potential deportation.
Abdul Nabizada, 36, a former translator for the British Army in Afghanistan, has been sentenced to seven years in prison in Scotland for raping a teenage taxi passenger. The High Court in Edinburgh handed down the sentence on Tuesday following Nabizada's conviction last month.
Court proceedings revealed that in November 2021, Nabizada failed to take the 19-year-old victim home after a night out. Instead, he took her mobile phone, drove her to a secluded area in Joppa, near Edinburgh, and assaulted her. The victim, who was intoxicated and vulnerable, managed to escape the vehicle and contact friends.
CCTV footage later showed Nabizada returning to the scene multiple times. Judge John Morris KC described the incident as a "crime of opportunism" and emphasized the serious and lasting impact on the victim. Nabizada maintained his innocence throughout the trial.
Nabizada's defence lawyer, David Taylor, noted that his client had worked as an interpreter for US, Danish, and British forces in Afghanistan and now holds indefinite leave to remain in the UK, having applied for citizenship. He expressed concern about potential deportation following the conviction.
Judge Morris acknowledged positive character references, Nabizada's clean criminal record, and his status as a "family man" with four children. He sentenced Nabizada to seven years imprisonment, placed him on the sex offenders register indefinitely, and issued a restraining order preventing contact with the victim.