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'I guess this is just my turn': visually impaired woman describes panic during false imprisonment by bogus taxi driver
Summary
A visually impaired woman described her panic during an incident of false imprisonment by a bogus taxi driver, stating her first thought was: "I guess this is just my turn." The defendant, Nicolae Zgherea (30), who has 11 previous convictions for road traffic offences, claimed he was unaware the victim was visually impaired. The court heard that the woman and her friend were waiting at a taxi rank when Zgherea approached, and the friend believed he was a legitimate driver. The woman entered his car, only to discover there was no taxi licence or meter. She asked Zgherea if he was a taxi driver, and when he confirmed he wasn't, she requested to be let out. Zgherea continued driving, and she called 999. The emergency operator asked him to pull over, which he eventually did. Zgherea pleaded guilty to false imprisonment. The court was told the incident had a significant impact on the woman's trust in others, independence, and confidence. She described the experience as terrifying and questioned whether she was targeted due to her disability or gender.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: 'I guess this is just my turn': visually impaired woman describes panic during false imprisonment by bogus taxi driver. Charges or matters: false imprisonment. Procedural stage: sentence
When:
- May 8, 2022 Incident
- 2026-04-15 Publication
Why: "Was I targeted because of my gender, disability or both? CNI source report
Case subjects
Defendant
Charges: false imprisonment (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: Remanding Zgherea on continuing bail, she adjourned the case until June and directed the Probation Service to carry out a risk assessment.
Places mentioned
Topics
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