Chilling second taxi driver preys on girl strolling residence from get together earlier than main her to alley to rape her
This is the chilling moment a taxi driver stalked a woman as she walked home – before leading her to an alley and raping her.
Daniel Hayelom, 36, an off-duty private hire driver, targeted the victim after he saw her walking home from a party in Beeston, Leeds, shortly after 6am in October 2023.
CCTV showed him driving past and watching the victim from his vehicle before he parked and got out of his car to approach her.
Hayelom started a conversation with her before walking her into an alleyway at the side of a Poundland store where he raped her.
He then walked off with her and left to go back to his car while she made her own way home and told others of the horrific attack.
Trawling of CCTV and DNA recovered from the victim linked the rapist to her before he was subsequently charged and appeared at Leeds Magistrates Court just four days later.
The victim, aged in her forties, had been drinking at the party and the prosecution argued she was too drunk to consent to any sexual activity.
Following a trial at Leeds Crown Court, Hayelom was last week convicted by a unanimous jury verdict.
CCTV showed him driving past and watching the victim from his vehicle before he parked and got out of his car to approach her
He then walked off with her and left to go back to his car while she made her own way home and told others of the horrific attack
The victim, aged in her forties, had been drinking at the party and the prosecution argued she was too drunk to consent to any sexual activity
Daniel Hayelom, 36, (pictured) an off-duty private hire driver, is set to be jailed after he raped a woman walking home from a party in Beeston, Leeds, shortly after 6am in October 2023
The 36-year-old of Clyde Approach, Armley, is due to be sentenced on Friday 2nd May.
Senior Investigating Officer, Detective Chief Inspector James Entwistle said: ‘Hayelom targeted the victim as someone he saw as being vulnerable at the time. He could have helped her to get home safely but instead he chose to prey on her for his own gratification.
‘His actions have had a significant traumatic impact on the victim, and we commend her for the courage and mental fortitude she has shown during the investigation and the court process that has resulted in his conviction.
‘We hope she can find some degree of comfort in seeing him held criminally accountable for what he did to her.
‘Women and girls should be safe to live their lives free from the fear of violence and harassment, and we remain fully committed to working alongside our partner agencies to make the county a safer place.
‘Taking dangerous offenders like Hayelom off the streets will always remain a key part of our work to keep women and girls safe.
‘Our professional and sensitive handling of this investigation should help to demonstrate to others how seriously we will always treat offences of this nature.’
