A taxi driver who filmed himself raping a vulnerable woman on trips to her support services and voluntary work over a five-year period has learned his fate as he was sentenced for his sick crimes.
Lance Melville Percival, 64, from Oxted, was jailed for 12 and a half years when he appeared at Guildford Crown Court on Monday. He pleaded guilty to eight counts of sexual activity with a person with a mental disorder impeding choice, four counts of rape, two counts of sexual assault and two counts of assault by penetration when he appeared at an earlier hearing.
An investigation was launched when an SD card hidden within his wallet was identified as containing numerous files showing him committing the offences. The survivor could clearly be heard telling him to stop in some of the videos while he was subjecting her to the awful abuse. A total of 16 videos were found spanning 13 dates between 2021 and 2024.
(Image: Surrey Police)
The victim never reported the abuse and had little understanding or comprehension of what happened to her. Police said she would never have told anyone about what was happening due to the level of grooming and her lack of understanding.
Percival worked as a self-employed taxi driver, licensed by Tandridge District Council, for 10 years. Surrey Police notified the Council and his Hackney Carriage licence was immediately revoked as soon as the allegation came to light.
Detective Constable Marc Taylor from Surrey Police’s Sexual Offences Investigation Team, who investigated the case, said: “Percival is a sexual predator who abused his position as her driver and took advantage of the victim’s vulnerability. The level and nature of the abuse was hugely shocking and I would like to thank all of my colleagues that assisted in the investigation.
“It is clear that Percival knew what he was doing and I am glad that his depraved actions finally came to light. Thanks to the work of the Sexual Offences Investigation Team and the bravery of those involved in the investigation, we were able to secure sufficient evidence to leave Percival no choice but to plead guilty to his crimes, meaning the survivor and her family were spared the trauma of going through the process of a trial.
(Image: PA Archive)
“This investigation, and today’s sentence, show how seriously any reports of sexual offences are taken and demonstrates that we will do whatever it takes to ensure perpetrators are brought to justice.”
He was also given a Restraining Order preventing contact with the survivor and her immediate relatives, and a Sexual Harm Prevention Order.