An Uber driver has been sentenced to 16 years in prison for coercing a passenger into his car and sexually assaulting her at knifepoint. Adam Daley, aged 33, targeted the victim and her friend outside a bar in Leicester city center on December 29 last year. Daley offered to drive them home using the Uber app, dropping one woman off before taking the other, in her 20s, to a secluded lay-by.

During the ride, Daley made inappropriate comments and then stopped the car, claiming he needed a restroom break. Instead, he brandished a knife, forced the woman into the front seat, and subjected her to a sexual assault. Following the assault, Daley fled, leaving the victim to call emergency services immediately. Police located Daley’s vehicle through surveillance cameras, arresting him shortly after the incident.

Video footage from Leicestershire Police captured Daley resisting arrest and attempting to destroy evidence. He was convicted of rape, sexual assault, carrying a bladed weapon, and making threats. In addition to the rape conviction, Daley pleaded guilty to possessing indecent images of a child found on his phone.

Despite DNA evidence linking the victim to Daley, he denied the charges, attributing the DNA transfer to a shared water bottle. However, investigators found that Daley circled back to the scene multiple times after the assault, raising suspicions of additional unreported incidents. Police suspect Daley may have assaulted other women while working as an Uber driver.

Detective Constable Matt Smith commended the victim for her swift action in contacting the authorities and urged any potential victims to come forward. Smith emphasized the importance of reporting sexual offenses and seeking support. Leicestershire Police encourages individuals to speak up if they have been victims of similar crimes.