Jojo Joseph Thirunilam, who licked his lips while a woman was sexually assaulted in the back of his car and took the victim back to the attacker's flat has been jailed
Taxi driver Jojo Joseph Thirunilam licked his lips while a woman was sexually assaulted in his taxi (Image: MEN MEDIA)
A cabbie licked his lips as he watched a rapist sexually assault an unconscious teenager in the back of his taxi.
Omed Mahmood, 39, had been out clubbing when he preyed on an 18-year-old woman who he pulled into a taxi which he redirected to his home once she fell asleep.
Police launched an investigation after the victim woke up distressed and confused at Mahmood's flat in Atherton, Greater Manchester, which she escaped from and raised the alarm from a nearby shop.
At Bolton Crown Court on Tuesday (May 31), Mahmood was jailed for nine years and his taxi driver on the night, Jojo Joseph Thirunilam, 49, was sentenced to 18 months behind bars.
Disturbing CCTV footage showed Mahmood dragging his victim towards the vehicle while she attempted to get away from him.
Omed Mahmood, 39, dragged the victim into a taxi and later paid the driver to change destination to his own flat (Image: MEN MEDIA)
During the initial interaction he handed bank notes to the driver, who was later seen making licking gestures as he watched Mahmood assault the woman.
Once they arrived at 6am, Mahmood forcefully pulled the victim out of the vehicle and into his flat, where he further sexually assaulted her while she passed in and out of consciousness.
She managed to escape two hours later, with police called after she told a local shopkeeper about what had happened.
Detailing the force's response, Detective Sergeant Andrew Devine from Greater Manchester Police's Wigan CID said: “Detectives immediately launched an investigation and arrested Mahmood within 48 hours of the incident.
Police were called after the woman escaped Mahmood's flat and reported her ordeal to a shopkeeper (Image: Getty Images/iStockphoto)
"They carefully pieced together hours off CCTV to understand the events of that night.
"Mahmood is a sexual predator and his monstrous actions that saw him prey on a vulnerable young woman are absolutely unspeakable."
Mahmood was found guilty at Bolton Crown Court of attempted rape, sexual assault by penetration and two counts of sexual assault.
Thirunilam meanwhile pleaded guilty to two counts of aiding Mahmood to commit the sexual offences.
He will be made to sign on the Sexual Offender Register and has had his taxi licence suspended by the local council.
Taxi driver Jojo Joseph Thirunilam licked his lips while a woman was sexually assaulted in his taxi (Image: MEN MEDIA)
A cabbie licked his lips as he watched a rapist sexually assault an unconscious teenager in the back of his taxi.
Omed Mahmood, 39, had been out clubbing when he preyed on an 18-year-old woman who he pulled into a taxi which he redirected to his home once she fell asleep.
Police launched an investigation after the victim woke up distressed and confused at Mahmood's flat in Atherton, Greater Manchester, which she escaped from and raised the alarm from a nearby shop.
At Bolton Crown Court on Tuesday (May 31), Mahmood was jailed for nine years and his taxi driver on the night, Jojo Joseph Thirunilam, 49, was sentenced to 18 months behind bars.
Disturbing CCTV footage showed Mahmood dragging his victim towards the vehicle while she attempted to get away from him.
Omed Mahmood, 39, dragged the victim into a taxi and later paid the driver to change destination to his own flat (Image: MEN MEDIA)
During the initial interaction he handed bank notes to the driver, who was later seen making licking gestures as he watched Mahmood assault the woman.
Once they arrived at 6am, Mahmood forcefully pulled the victim out of the vehicle and into his flat, where he further sexually assaulted her while she passed in and out of consciousness.
She managed to escape two hours later, with police called after she told a local shopkeeper about what had happened.
Detailing the force's response, Detective Sergeant Andrew Devine from Greater Manchester Police's Wigan CID said: “Detectives immediately launched an investigation and arrested Mahmood within 48 hours of the incident.
Police were called after the woman escaped Mahmood's flat and reported her ordeal to a shopkeeper (Image: Getty Images/iStockphoto)
"They carefully pieced together hours off CCTV to understand the events of that night.
"Mahmood is a sexual predator and his monstrous actions that saw him prey on a vulnerable young woman are absolutely unspeakable."
Mahmood was found guilty at Bolton Crown Court of attempted rape, sexual assault by penetration and two counts of sexual assault.
Thirunilam meanwhile pleaded guilty to two counts of aiding Mahmood to commit the sexual offences.
He will be made to sign on the Sexual Offender Register and has had his taxi licence suspended by the local council.
