Woman raped by taxi driver after he dropped all her friends off first

A "predatory" taxi driver who raped and sexually assaulted a vulnerable female passenger after picking her up from a night out has been put behind bars, Prosecutors at Scotland's Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) have said. Thomas Tosh, 39, was found guilty of attacking the woman at his home in Drumchapel in Glasgow, while she was intoxicated and incapable of giving consent.

The High Court in Glasgow heard that Tosh had collected the 23-year-old victim and her friends from a pub in Clydebank in the early hours of September 30, 2023. After dropping off all passengers apart from the victim, he marked the fare as completed and logged out of the taxi’s GPS tracking system. Tosh then drove the 23‑year‑old woman in the opposite direction to where he was supposed to take her and took her to his home, where he raped her, prosecutors said.

Two hours later, he logged back in to the tracking system while driving away from the direction of the victim's home, where he had dropped her off.

Tosh was later identified after a friend of the victim showed her a picture of him from social media. Prosecutors presented GPS evidence, DNA results, text messages and witness accounts to secure the conviction.

Tosh was jailed for seven years at the same court today (Tuesday, April 7), and his name was added to the sex offenders register indefinitely.

He was also handed a 10-year non‑harassment order, banning him from contacting or attempting to contact the victim.

Faye Cook, Procurator Fiscal for High Court Sexual Offences, said: “This was a despicable betrayal of trust by a man who was responsible for getting a woman home safely after a night out.

“Thomas Tosh deliberately concealed his location as he drove the victim to his home, where he raped her while it was clear she was unable to consent.

“I want to recognise the courage shown by this young woman throughout the prosecution process. Her strength has helped bring a predatory offender to justice.

“Scotland’s prosecutors will continue to use every tool available to pursue those who abuse women and girls, and to protect the public from harm.”