Fugitive driver given eight years for taxi sex assault

A fugitive driver who tricked a woman into entering his vehicle by posing as a taxi operator has been sentenced to an eight-year custodial term in his absence, after a jury convicted him of sexual assault.

Arjun Rajan, 33, of Affleck Road, Colchester, whose date of birth is not publicly available, fled the United Kingdom following his initial court appearance but was found guilty and sentenced at an in-absentia hearing on 4 December 2025.

The court heard that in the early hours of 24 July 2022, Rajan drove alone to Colchester city centre, parking on High Street before walking to Head Street around 12.30am.

After approximately thirty minutes, the defendant, who was captured on city centre CCTV, spotted his victim walking to secure a lift home. Rajan proceeded to observe and follow the woman onto High Street before offering her a lift, thereby deceiving her into believing he was a legitimate cab driver.

The woman entered the vehicle and Rajan drove in the direction of her home address, but before they arrived, he carried out a sexual assault. The victim courageously instructed him to stop the car, alighting and walking the remainder of the journey home, where she immediately disclosed the attack and alerted the police.

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Detectives rapidly identified and arrested Rajan on the same day, hours after the incident. He was subsequently charged with sexual assault, first appearing at Colchester Magistrates’ Court on 14 July 2023. However, before the case proceeded to trial, Rajan left the country, prompting the issuance of a warrant for his arrest.

Despite his fugitive status, the trial proceeded, and on 7 October 2025, a jury found him guilty of the sexual assault. On sentencing, he received an eight-year prison term, was placed on the sex offenders’ register for life, and was made subject to an indefinite

Sexual Harm Prevention Order. Rajan remains a wanted man, with law enforcement partners internationally continuing to pursue his arrest to ensure he faces the imposed sentence.

In her victim personal statement, presented to the court, the woman detailed the profound impact of the crime, stating she "shut myself away from the world" and was "terrified that he might find me."