An Uber driver has been sentenced to 16 years in prison for coercing a passenger into his vehicle and sexually assaulting her at knifepoint. Adam Daley, aged 33, approached the victim and her friend outside a bar in Leicester city center on December 29 last year. Daley offered to drive them home using the Uber app, dropping off one of the women before taking the victim, in her 20s, to a secluded lay-by.
During the ride, Daley made inappropriate remarks and asked intrusive questions before stopping the car, claiming he needed to use the restroom. He then forced the woman into the front seat at knifepoint, threatening her and coercing her into a sexual act. Additionally, he assaulted her by groping and pulling down her clothing.
After the victim pleaded with him to stop, Daley abandoned her in the lay-by on Soar Valley Way. She promptly contacted the authorities, leading to the identification of Daley’s vehicle through CCTV and ANPR cameras. Police apprehended Daley while his car was stationary at traffic lights shortly after the assault.
Video footage from Leicestershire Police depicted officers removing Daley from his vehicle as he attempted to destroy evidence by damaging his mobile phone. Daley, a resident of Leicester, was convicted of rape, sexual assault, possession of a bladed weapon, and making threats to kill.
Apart from the sexual assault charges, Daley also confessed to possessing indecent images of a child, discovered during a search of his mobile phone. Despite DNA evidence linking the victim to him, Daley denied the crimes, attributing the DNA transfer to the victim using a water bottle in his car.
Moreover, detectives found that Daley circled the location where he left the victim multiple times after the assault, raising suspicions of additional unreported incidents. Leicestershire Police suspect that Daley may have targeted other women while operating as an Uber driver.
Detective Constable Matt Smith praised the victim for her quick actions in contacting the police and urged other potential victims to come forward, emphasizing the importance of reporting such offenses promptly. Smith highlighted the possibility of other undisclosed victims due to Daley’s profession as an Uber driver, urging individuals to seek support and assistance if they have faced similar situations.