Girl's family launch action over attack

From the Telegraph & Argus, first published Saturday 24th Jul 2004.

The parents of a schoolgirl who was sexually molested by a hackney carriage driver are considering taking out a no-win no-fee legal action as they fight to sue Bradford Council for negligence.

The Legal Services Commission has refused to grant legal aid to the girl's family because it considers it to be a personal injuries claim.

But the family are refusing to give up the fight for justice for their 15-year-old daughter and other potential victims and are looking at the option of getting a solicitor to take up their case on a no-win no-fee basis where legal aid is not required.

The teenager was attacked by taxi driver Naseem Abbas, 24, in August last year. She had got into his vehicle with other relatives but after dropping them off he drove her to a quiet cul-de-sac where he carried out an indecent assault.

Abbas - who had been found not guilty of sexually assaulting an 18-year-old woman passenger before attacking the schoolgirl - was jailed for three years last month.

The youngster's parents decided to sue the Council for negligence after discovering Abbas had been granted a taxi licence by councillors on the Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Panel despite him disclosing he had a previous conviction for a physical assault.

The father, who cannot be named to protect the identity of his daughter, said: "We are discussing the option of a no-win no-fee legal action.

"Our solicitor, Fraser Tordoff, has spoken to a colleague who is experienced in that field and he would be willing to look at our case and see if he can help.

"We are devastated that we have been refused legal aid but we do not want to let the matter drop. We are doing this for our daughter and for other young girls. You expect them to be safe when they get in a taxi."

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