Swindon Man Sentenced to 18 Years for Rape

Fareed Tariq, 43, of Barnum Court, Swindon, has been sentenced to 18 years in prison for raping a woman after pretending to be a taxi driver.

Tariq was found guilty by trial in February and sentenced at Swindon Crown Court on April 3, 2023.

The incident occurred on April 14, 2023, when the victim was out with friends in Swindon town centre. She called a taxi company around 3:15 am but was not picked up. She then got into Tariq's vehicle, who drove her to a quiet area in Pinehurst and assaulted her.

Tariq was sentenced to 13 years in custody, of which he will serve a minimum of nine years. His sentence was extended by another five years on licence. He has also been placed on the sex offenders register for life and has been given a restraining order from the victim for life.

James Purcell, Major Crime Team Investigator, said: "This was a horrendous incident, where Tariq pretended to be a taxi driver and picked up a vulnerable woman after a night out. He took her to a quiet area and raped her before picking up her son from her friend's house. I'd like to thank the victim for her incredible bravery through reporting the incident and through what must have been a really difficult trial, reliving a traumatic experience. Without her continued assistance, the outcome would not have been possible."