Man who posed as taxi driver to kidnap woman, 25, in central London jailed
A man who posed as a taxi driver to kidnap a young woman as she walked home in central London has been jailed.
Isaac Mabwa, of Melville Avenue, Ealing, was sentenced to nine years’ imprisonment at Wood Green Crown Court on Monday and put on the sex offenders register for life.
The 33-year-old was previously found guilty of kidnap, false imprisonment and committing an offence with intent to comment a sexual offence at Harrow Crown Court in August.
His trial heard how he drove a hire car through central London when he came across a 25-year-old woman walking home on Euston Road in the early hours of May 8, 2017.
He stopped his car and offered the woman a lift home.
Believing he was driving a taxi or minicab, the victim got into the car but Mabwa quickly began driving in the opposite direction away from her home.
She tried to get out of the car several times but Mabwa stopped her, jurors heard. She was able to message her boyfriend and a friend and sent them her location.
After around 90 minutes, Mabwa stopped at an unlit car park and the victim began to scream.
The screams alerted a member of the public and she was able to escape from the car.
Mabwa left the car park and was detained by police a short time later. Following a lengthy investigation, he was charged in April 2020.
"This was a terrifying experience for the young woman involved who was targeted while walking home from a night out,” said Detective Constable Natalie Witt, who worked on the investigation.
"Her bravery and support for the investigation means Isaac Mabwa is no longer a risk to other women, and while today is not a day to celebrate, I hope the sentence allows her some closure.
"I recognise that details of this awful crime will cause fear among the community, particularly women, and I would like to reassure you that the Met is doing everything it can to make the streets of London safer for everyone."
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