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.

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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.

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The Third Victim: Knife Threats and Systematic Abuse

The court heard that throughout 2025, as investigations into the previous two attacks continued, Thompson’s depravity reached its peak. He targeted a third woman, subjecting her to an estimated six or seven counts of rape.

Mr. Polglase described how Thompson had become increasingly manipulative and violent, using a knife to threaten this third victim and subjecting her to "brutal" physical assaults to ensure her compliance. The prosecution noted that Thompson demonstrated "little or no regard for the boundaries of and consent for sex."

Mitigation and Criminal History

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Defending, Anthony O'Donohoe pointed to Thompson’s previous "good character," noting he had no prior criminal convictions. However, the court was informed that Thompson had been the subject of a previous investigation in January 2024 involving an alleged sexual assault on a lap dancer, though the complainant later withdrew her statement and no charges were filed.

Mr. O'Donohoe also confirmed that while Thompson currently has "leave to remain" in the UK, his immigration status is now under formal review by the Home Office.

Sentencing Remarks: ‘A Significant Risk to the Public’

In his sentencing remarks, Judge Brian Cummings KC delivered a blistering assessment of Thompson’s character, officially designating him as a "dangerous offender" under sentencing guidelines.

"My own assessment is that you are a dangerous offender, and there would remain a significant risk to members of the public of serious harm," the Judge stated.

The Final Sentence:

• Custodial Term: 23 years imprisonment.

• Extended License: 8 years (Total extended sentence: 31 years).

• Parole Rules: Thompson must serve at least two-thirds of the 23-year term (approx. 15.5 years) behind bars before being eligible for Parole Board consideration.

• Sex Offenders Register: Lifetime notification requirement.

• Deportation: The Judge noted that while he made no formal order, the "appropriate authorities" would likely consider his deportation following the conclusion of his sentence.

Thompson sat motionless as the 31-year total term was handed down, marking the end of a legal process that finally removed a serial predator from the streets of Liverpool.