Fake Taxi Driver Jailed for 31 Years for Predatory Campaign

Amponsah Thompson, 29, appeared via video link from HMP Liverpool wearing a white Puma t-shirt to face justice for a harrowing series of attacks described by prosecutors as a "predatory campaign." The court heard how Thompson, of Rocky Lane, Tuebrook, utilized the guise of a legitimate taxi driver to lure intoxicated young women into his vehicle before subjecting them to "extreme" sexual violence and, in later cases, terrorizing them with a knife.

The First Victim: The ‘Taxi’ Ruse and the Bank Transfer

The prosecution, led by David Polglase, detailed the first incident occurring in August 2024. An 18-year-old woman was separated from her friends after a night out in Liverpool city centre. At approximately 2:00 am, she approached Thompson’s white Mercedes outside what was then Alma de Cuba (now St Peter’s Tavern).

When the teenager asked if he was a taxi driver, Thompson lied, confirming he was available for hire. Instead of taking her to her home address, he drove her to his own residence on Rocky Lane. Once there, he climbed into the rear passenger seats and sexually assaulted her.

Read more: Milton Keynes Rapist Sentenced at Aylesbury Crown Court

The victim showed incredible presence of mind by pretending her family was currently tracking her live location on her phone. Fearing discovery, Thompson halted the assault and drove her home. In a crucial error that would later lead to his downfall, Thompson allowed the victim to pay for the "journey" via a bank transfer. Police were later able to use this transaction to trace his identity directly through his personal banking records.

Escalation While on Bail

Despite being arrested and released on bail under investigation for the August assault, Thompson returned to his "prowling" behavior just months later. In December 2024, he targeted a second 18-year-old woman who was found "extremely drunk and vulnerable," slumped against a wall in the city centre.

CCTV footage played to the court showed Thompson "escorting" the semi-conscious teenager to his vehicle at 3:30 am. She recalled "zoning in and out of sleep" as she was taken back to his flat and raped. She awoke the following morning in his bed before he drove her home. During police interviews, Thompson claimed the encounter was entirely consensual—a claim the jury dismissed during his subsequent trial.