Predator who carried ‘rape kit' while posing as Uber driver to attack young women found guilty of kidnap and sex assault
Graham Head was today found guilty of attempting to rape one woman and sexually assaulting another in attacks around Brighton and Hove.
Advertisement
5
Graham Head was found guilty on all counts today
Credit: Sussex Police
5
Head was found with a "rape kit" in his car as cops arrested him
Credit: Sussex Police
5
The twisted fake taxi driver is set to be sentenced on August 25
In July 2023, the 68-year-old was sentenced to 23 years behind bars for kidnap, attempted rape and assault by penetration relating to two female victims.
But the Court of Appeal overturned his conviction in November 2024 after a complaint from the sex predator concerning the Judge who had ruled in the first trial.
Head appeared at Lewes Crown Court for his retrial today, where a jury again found him guilty of all counts.
The twisted fake taxi driver is set to be sentenced on August 25.
Advertisement
Read More
Jurors at Lewes Crown Court previously heard how a 25-year-old female victim had managed to read his number plate after being attacked.
The woman reported waking up in a car, which she thought was a taxi, to find a man sexually assaulting her.
She had gotten into the car earlier that night, to travel from Brighton to Hove.
Advertisement
Most read in The Sun
The victim escaped at around 3am and called 999 to report being assaulted by a man in latex gloves and a Covid mask.
The court was told Head was a "sexual predator" who "slipped up" the night he was arrested.
Chilling moment fake Uber driver who prowled streets for women to rape is arrested after victim memorised number plate
In footage shown to jurors, police can be seen talking to the 68-year-old after pulling him over in Brighton.
As he is speaking, police decide to search his car where they found latex gloves, viagra, condoms and a balaclava that formed a rape kit.
Advertisement
When asked why he had the condoms and viagra, Head said: "I'm a normal red blooded male".
Police also found business cards advertising him as a "N-Uber driver" that had the slogan "Safe and Reliable - For All Occasions".
Head was also found guilty of assaulting a 19-year-old woman he picked up near Hove Park.
She was pulled into bushes where the predator attempted to rape her, after the victim initially took a lift from him.
Advertisement
The two attacks took place in the early hours of August 19 and November 18, 2022.
Detective Constable Elliott Lander from the Surrey and Sussex Major Crime Team said: 'Graham Head has twice tried to evade justice for his despicable crimes, and now twice been convicted by separate juries.
'His refusal to accept responsibility for his offending has forced his victims to relive the traumatic attacks carried out by him. The impact on them and their families cannot be overstated, and I commend all involved for their strength and courage in such challenging circumstances.
'Head will remain in prison, as he has throughout this process, as we await resentencing.'
Advertisement
One of Head's victims, a 25-year-old woman, tragically passed away last year.
Her heartbroken mum released the following emotional statement: "Regardless of the outcome of this trial and independently of the jury's verdicts on each of the charges that Graham Head has just faced, I want to say a few words on behalf of my daughter.
"My (only) daughter tragically died in late 2024 – a couple days after being informed by the CPS that Graham Head had been successful in appealing his conviction for kidnap of my daughter and for causing serious sexual harm to her and to another even younger female victim.
"I feel strongly that I need to protect the anonymity of my own and my daughter's friends and the families and friends of Graham Head's victims.
Advertisement
"However, I want to recognise and say my own deep thanks for the strong and compassionate support that my daughter, myself, and our family have received from the Police, the CPS, the witness service, and the Courts over the past two years.
"This retrial process has been tremendously difficult and a huge strain for all of us; we're glad it is now over.
"I'm especially grateful for the attuned support of the Sexual Offences Investigation Team (SOIT) and the Independent Sexual Violence Advocacy (ISVA) service who supported my daughter every step of the way through the challenges of bringing this man to justice on both trials.
"Looking to my family's future following my daughter's death, my biggest hope is that other families can now hopefully feel much safer knowing that this dangerous man is no longer able to predate and attack any other vulnerable young local woman thanks to his deserved (re)conviction for these appalling offences.
Advertisement
"My other hope is that, if there are other young women who feel they may have narrowly escaped or fallen victim to this sexual predator, then they will hopefully be reassured by my daughter's and our family's experience that they will be listened to, supported, and well cared for by the Police and Court systems."
5
Head was also found guilty of assaulting a 19-year-old woman he picked up near Hove Park
5
Police found business cards advertising him as a "N-Uber driver" that had the slogan "Safe and Reliable - For All Occasions"
Credit: Sussex Police
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Irish Daily Mirror
26 minutes ago
- Irish Daily Mirror
Dublin Rape Crisis Centre welcomes verdict in Conor McGregor appeal
Dublin Rape Crisis Centre has welcomed the judgement of the Court of Appeal upholding the High Court's ruling in a civil suit taken by Nikita Hand against Conor McGregor in November 2024. Chief Executive of Dublin Rape Crisis Centre, Rachel Morrogh, said: 'Today's decision by the Appeals Court confirms the finding by a High Court jury last November that Conor McGregor raped Nikita Hand and that damages were due to her. "We hope the Court's judgement closes the door on a protracted, traumatic and challenging road for Nikita Hand that was marked by attempts to discredit her, obfuscate the truth and derail her determination to seek justice. "We are relieved that justice has eventually been served, for Nikita but also for the many other survivors who so strongly identify with her through this process. Nikita Hand arriving at the Court of Appeal (Image: SAM BOAL/COLLINS PHOTOS) "We see the defendant for what he is – another guy using tactics from an age-old perpetrator-playbook in an attempt to avoid judgement and culpability. "But while he will undoubtedly be rehabilitated by brands and associates who will overlook what he has done, a stain will always remain - the truth that Nikita Hand fought for. "We hope that lessons and reforms arise from this case, including a more victim-centred civil and criminal justice system and a shift in the public's attitudes towards victims of sexual violence. "The Central Statistics Office has reported that one in two women and one in four men will experience sexual violence in their lifetime, so this is an issue that affects hundreds of thousands of people in Ireland - and yet survivors still face hostility, suspicion, shame and blame. "The CSO has shown that given the multiple barriers they face, fewer than 3 per cent of people who have experienced sexual violence as an adult ever report it to Gardaí. "While we all have a right of access to justice, can we say with confidence that justice is truly being served if a particular community of victims – survivors of sexual violence – overwhelmingly lacks confidence to seek justice? "Our own research earlier this year revealed more than three in 10 people would not suggest contacting Gardaí after a sexual assault and one in two believe that sexual offence trials are much harder for survivors compared to other types of crimes. "This cannot be the best we can offer survivors of sexual violence and Dublin Rape Crisis Centre will continue to advocate for victim-centred reform.' We saw a significant increase in first-time callers to the 24-hour National Rape Crisis Helpline as a result of the trial last November and we anticipate that there will be an outpouring of public support now too. "Dublin Rape Crisis Centre has rostered a full complement of Helpline Counsellors on the 24-hour National Rape Crisis Helpline to support anyone who might need it. "Nikita's encouragement of other survivors and her understanding for their experience has left a lasting and inspiring impression. "We are proud to have supported her in her pursuit of justice - we at Dublin Rape Crisis Centre send our best wishes to Nikita, her partner, her daughter and wider family and friend group for a hopeful future. 'Nikita Hand spoke truth to power and now the truth is known to all. Thank you, Nikita.' Free, confidential & non-judgemental support for anyone affected by sexual violence is on the 24-hour National Rape Crisis Helpline 1800 778888. Subscribe to our newsletter for the latest news from the Irish Mirror direct to your inbox: Sign up here. The Irish Mirror's Crime Writers Michael O'Toole and Paul Healy are writing a new weekly newsletter called Crime Ireland. Click here to sign up and get it delivered to your inbox every week
Irish Times
an hour ago
- Irish Times
Conor McGregor loses appeal over civil rape case
Conor McGregor has lost his appeal against a civil jury finding in favour of Nikita Hand, who sued him over alleged rape of her in a Dublin hotel. In its judgment on Thursday afternoon, the three judge Court of Appeal dismissed all grounds of the appeal. Ms Hand was in court for the ruling. Mr McGregor was not present. Mr McGregor, who denied rape and claimed he had consensual and 'vigorous' sex with Ms Hand in the Beacon hotel on December 9th 2018, had claimed the trial judge erred in directing the High Court civil jury should be asked to decide whether he 'assaulted', rather than 'sexually assaulted', Ms Hand. Dismissing that ground of appeal, Mr Justice Brian O'Moore, sitting with Ms Justice Isobel Kennedy and Mr Justice Michael McGrath, said the appeal court had no doubt the overall effect of Mr Justice Alexander Owen's charge was to tell them the central allegation by Ms Hand against Mr McGregor was he had raped her. READ MORE Photo shows Nikita Hand arriving at the Court of Appeal. Photograph: Collins Courts/ CC It was 'unreal' to suggest that, after the trial judge had framed the issue in the 'brutally clear' way he had, that the jury could have been confused. He also dismissed another core ground of appeal that the trial judge erred in permitting a line of questioning concerning Mr McGregor's multiple 'no comment' responses to investigating gardaí after providing them with a pre-prepared statement in response to Ms Hand's rape claim. The trial judge was alive to the fact the jury had to be warned about not making adverse inferences against Mr McGregor from his no comment replies and had warned them to that effect, he said. The jury were also told to disregard certain no comment answers as having no evidential value. There was 'an unimpeachable exposition' by the trial judge to the jury about the legal position relating to the no comment answers, he said. He told them repeatedly they should not consider the answers as supportive of Ms Hand's case, he told them the answers were simply not evidence. Mr McGregor had failed to show a real risk of an unfair trial and his side had not been deprived of the right of an effective cross-examination, the judge held. Ms Hand was also entitled to costs at the highest solicitor-client level of the last-minute withdrawal, in mysterious circumstances, of two motions brought by Mr McGregor seeking to have fresh evidence admitted. Lawyers for Ms Hand opposed the appeal and urged the court to allow the November 2024 jury decision that Mr McGregor had assaulted Ms Hand, and its award of €250,000 damages to her, to stand. An order requiring Mr McGregor to pay Ms Hand's estimated €1.3m legal costs was stayed pending the outcome of the appeal. The court today ordered Ms Hand should get her costs in the High Court and appeal court against Mr McGregor. Mr McGregor had initially sought to introduce fresh evidence for his appeal which he said bolstered his insistence he was not responsible for bruising on the body of Ms Hand noted by a doctor who examined her on December 10th 2018. The fresh evidence included from Samantha O'Reilly and Steven Cummins, who lived across the road from Ms Hand in Drimnagh in late 2018. In an affidavit sworn last January, Ms O'Reilly claimed she had witnessed, from her home, a physical altercation between Ms Hand and her then partner Stephen Redmond in their home on the night of December 9/10th 2018. In an affidavit, Ms Hand described her neighbours' claims as lies and said Mr Redmond never assaulted her that night or at any time during their relationship. After the application to admit the neighbours' evidence was dramatically withdrawn by Mr McGregor's side at the outset of the appeal on July 1st last, Ms Hand's lawyers applied to have the matter referred for consideration of possible perjury, including possible induced perjury by Mr McGregor. Senior counsel John Gordon said a referral would show the court's concern about the 'apparent abuse of its own processes'. The fresh evidence application was not just to adduce further evidence but to undermine Ms Hand's reputation pending the hearing of the appeal, he said. Having viewed materials in chambers, the judges agreed to refer the matter to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) and said it would inform the parties of the materials it proposed to refer. It is understood the materials include affidavits of Ms O'Reilly, Mr Cummins and Ms Hand. They also include a booklet of documents provided by Ms Hand's side to the appeal court on foot of which it was intended to cross-examine Ms O'Reilly and Mr Cummins about their sworn statements. Parts of the transcript of the appeal hearing related to the withdrawal application are also included. According to court sources, the normal procedure when such referrals are made is that the materials are sent by the DPP to An Garda Síochána and the latter then considers whether they involve possible perjury.
Irish Examiner
2 hours ago
- Irish Examiner
Conor McGregor loses appeal against jury finding in Nikita Hand case
MMA fighter Conor McGregor has lost his appeal against the jury finding in a High Court case, in which Nikita Hand alleged he raped her in a Dublin hotel in 2018. The judgement was delivered on Thursday in the Court of Appeal, by Justices Isobel Kennedy, Brian O'Moore, and Michael MacGrath. Mr McGregor had taken the appeal against the jury finding from the case last November, in which Ms Hand alleged he had raped her. The jury awarded Ms Hand €250,000 in damages. Mr McGregor, who denied the allegations, was also ordered to pay Ms Hand's costs in the case. The Court of Appeal has previously heard the legal costs involved in the civil assault trial totalled €1.3m. Ms Hand was present for Thursday's hearing before the court. Mr McGregor was not in court. Earlier this month, the MMA fighter dramatically withdrew one of his main grounds of appeal in the case, which was fresh evidence he wanted to introduce. The fresh evidence in question had related to testimony to be given by the former Northern Irish state pathologist Professor Jack Crane. This was regarding sworn affidavits from Ms Hand's neighbours at the time of the alleged assault - Samantha O'Reilly and Stephen Cummins - claiming they had heard an altercation within Ms Hand's apartment at the time of the issues in dispute in December 2018. On the back of this, John Gordon SC, for Ms Hand, said that Mr McGregor should face a charge of inducing others to commit perjury on his behalf and the judges indicated they would refer this withdrawal of evidence to the DPP. The judges determined that Ms Hand was entitled to extra costs from Mr McGregor in this regard, given she had to form a defence for this 'fresh evidence' which was then withdrawn at the last minute. Mr Justice O'Moore noted the court's 'displeasure and disapproval' over this affair in the judgement. More to follow...
