DNA evidence convicts former Loughborough taxi driver of rape nearly two decades after attack

He is due to be sentenced at a later date.

DNA obtained by police nearly 20 years ago has led to the conviction of a former Loughborough taxi driver.

The DNA of Mahbubur Rahman was found to match that of a previously unidentified sample collected at the time of the offence in 2006 – against a then 19-year-old woman.

The connection was made in 2022 after Rahman was arrested for an unrelated matter.

He continued to deny the offence.

Today (Wednesday 3 September), following a trial at Leicester Crown Court, the now 50-year-old, of Jane Street, Chadderton, Greater Manchester, has been found guilty of rape and is due to be sentenced at a later date.

Detective Constable Kristina Page-Brown has been working as the officer in the case since the DNA match was identified.

She said: “The victim has waited 19 years to get some sort of resolution and justice for the traumatic ordeal she was subjected to that night. Knowing the man responsible for this horrendous crime was still out there and living his life is something I know has been extremely difficult for her all these years.

“Since the discovery three years ago, we have been thoroughly reviewing the crime file complied at the time of the incident, as well as building up a picture of the defendant to establish where he was living and working in 2006.

“At the time of the original investigation the victim had been intoxicated but was able to tell police she had got into a taxi which had stopped for her to withdraw money from a cash machine. Her next recollection was of the sexual assault taking place and then arriving home when the incident was immediately reported to police.”

At the time of the offence, which occurred in the early hours of Saturday 7 October 2006, it has been confirmed the then-31-year-old Rahman was working as a taxi driver in the Loughborough area.

Eventually, after all avenues were exhausted, the case was filed in 2009 – subject to any new information or evidence coming to light.

It was then in April 2022 that detectives got an exact DNA match for the offence after Rahman was arrested on suspicion of burglary. Prior to this he had not been known to police.

While in custody, as part of standard procedure, a mouth swab was taken to obtain his DNA and ran through the policing database. This sample was found to a precise DNA match to the semen samples recovered at the time of the rape.

After being arrested, the defendant initially tried to deny anything had happened before later claiming they had engaged in consensual sex.

He was charged with rape in January 2023.

DC Page-Brown added: “The victim trusted Rahman to take her home after a night out in Loughborough. Instead, he abused that trust and took advantage of a vulnerable woman in the worst way imaginable. He has evaded justice for far too long and throughout has shown no remorse or regret for what he did. I am pleased he has now been made to answer for the crime but also relieved for the victim that the man who caused irreversible damage to her life now faces years behind bars.”

Detective Inspector Mike Chandler, Senior Investigating Officer, said: “Bringing offenders to justice – no matter how long ago a crime may have been committed – is a critical part of our duty.  

“Unsolved cases will always be reinvestigated should new evidence or information come to light. In this case the crime was filed in 2009, but when the DNA match was identified the case was reopened and detectives set to work to review the original material from the case, as well as carrying out new enquiries to build a case against the perpetrator.

“This work was vital in strengthening the already compelling case and has helped to secure today’s conviction at court.

“We would encourage anyone who has been a victim of a sexual offence to speak to us. We have a dedicated team of detectives who will listen to you and support you throughout any investigation.”

More information and support can be found at https://www.leics.police.uk/ro/report/rsa/alpha-v1/advice/rape-sexual-assault-and-other-sexual-offences/