Minicab driver raped drunk passengers and his wife even tried to bribe victim to keep quiet

A married taxi driver who raped two drunken passengers has been jailed for 12 years.

Asif Iqbal, from Newport, South Wales, was convicted of raping the passengers - but police fear many more women may have been attacked on late-night rides home.

And his wife was also jailed for six months after admitting to perverting the course of justice by offering one of the victim's money to withdraw her complaint.

Iqbal targeted women outside pubs and nightclubs, because he knew they would be drunk.

Prosecutor Caroline Rees said: 'His first victim remembered hearing the central locking system click.

'She then recalled the driver dropping her off but was immediately fearful she had been raped.

'She became distrusting of taxi drivers and said she feels dirty.'

The second victim was in Newport city centre when she got into Iqbal's taxi.

Miss Rees said: 'He started touching her thigh and drove her to a secluded lane.

'The woman was speechless with fear and sobbed throughout the ordeal.'

Sentencing him, Judge David Wynn Morgan sitting at Cardiff Crown Court old him: 'Dry your eyes Asif Iqbal. This court does not feel sorry for you.'

And Morgan told his wife 'Your misfortune was to be married to a very, very bad man.'

Police yesterday urged other women passengers who have been subjected to similar sexual abuse to come forward.