[Bev]

A man from Greater Manchester has been jailed for sexually assaulting two teenage girls he was giving a lift to.

Arpan Duggal, 26, was sentenced to 18 months in prison at Manchester Crown Court having been found guilty of two counts of sexual assault.

Duggal, of Briarfield Road, Timperley, was working as a taxi driver at the time of the incident.

The victims, aged 13 and 14, were given his number by a relative of one of the girls, who told them his nickname 'Johnny' and that he could give them free lifts.

On 24th April last year, the pair called Duggal on his mobile and arranged to be collected from the Northern Moor Area and taken to Fallowfield.

On the journey, the offender began touching one of the girls on the leg, and asking them whether they had boyfriends. He stopped on Palatine Road and asked his passengers to switch seats.

When they arrived at Fallowfield, one of the girls exited the vehicle, and the driver locked her friend inside and sexually assaulted her.

Neither girl reported the incident initially, but they came forward when Duggal began texting and phoning one of them.

Detective Constable Charlotte Owens, of the Child Abuse Investigation Team, said: “Duggal has used the ploy of offering free lifts to get the girls in his car.

“When he did he sexually assaulted them.



“I hope the victim’s take some comfort from knowing he has now been sentenced.

“It is worth noting that Duggal’s former employers were equally appalled by what he did and have fully cooperated with the police during the investigation.

“His actions should in no way reflect them or any of their drivers who provide a valuable service for many in the area.”

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