Chilling second sick Uber driver stalks sufferer earlier than raping her as she walked residence
WARNING, DISTRESSING CONTENT: Chilling CCTV footage captured the moment a sicko cab driver stalked a woman as she walked home from a party before pouncing on her in a sickening sex attack
WYP release footage Uber driver stalking victim before raping her
The chilling moment a predatory Uber driver stalked his victim before raping her after he’d followed her as she walked home from a party has been revealed. Sick Daniel Hayelom, 36, targeted the victim after he saw her walking in Leeds, West Yorkshire shortly after 6am on Sunday, October 22, 2023.
He was captured on CCTV driving past his victim and watching her from his vehicle while he was off-duty, before he parked up and approached her on foot.
After he lay in wait in the darkness, he is seen on a newly-released CCTV clip approaching her on foot.
Making sure to look around so he would not be disturbed, he vanishes out of shot momentarily where he engaged the woman in conversation. He engaged her in conversation and then walked her into an alleyway at the side of a Poundland store, where he raped her.
Hayelom then calmly returns to his car, leaving his victim to walk home on her own.
After the rape was reported, detectives trawled CCTV in the area to trace the victim’s movements and saw Hayelom following the victim in his taxi before approaching her on foot.
The vehicle’s registration was identified, and he was arrested later that day and cops matched him to DNA found on the victim. The victim, aged in her forties, had been drinking at the party and jurors were told she was too drunk to consent to any sexual activity.
Following a trial at Leeds Crown Court, Hayelom was found guilty by unanimous verdict. He is due to be sentenced on Friday, May 2.
Speaking after sentencing, DCI James Entwistle of West Yorkshire Police 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.”
If you or somebody you know has been affected by this story, contact Victim Support for free, confidential advice on 08 08 16 89 111 or visit their website.
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