A NEWPORT taxi driver was jailed for 12 years after raping two women.

Asif Iqbal, 42, of Alice Street, described as a “predator”

by his victims yesterday, wept in the dock as he was jailed.

Judge David Wynn Morgan, sitting at Cardiff Crown Court, said Iqbal, who admitted two counts of rape and one count of perverting the course of justice, subjected his victims to degradation and humiliation, leaving them both traumatised.

He told him: “Dry your eyes, Asif Iqbal, this court does not feel sorry for you.”

He added Iqbal had abused the trust women place in taxi drivers “for the satisfaction of your sexual gratification”.

Iqbal also received an extended licence period.

After he was jailed, his first victim said: “Why should we feel sorry for him? He’s the predator – we’re just the victims.”

Both women told the Argus they were relieved the case was over, and wanted to issue a warning to other women not to get into cabs on their own.

Prosecutor Caroline Rees told the court Iqbal picked up the first victim from an address and that she was very drunk.

She remembered hearing the central locking system click, and then remembered the driver dropping her off but was immediately fearful she had been raped by the driver.

The woman became distrusting of taxi drivers and said she always feels dirty.

The second victim had been in Newport city centre with a friend and got into the taxi to go home.

Ms Rees said the driver started touching the victim’s thigh and drove her to a secluded lane. She said the woman was speechless with fear and sobbed throughout her ordeal.

John Dye, for Iqbal, said he was a man of previous good character and has shown some remorse.

Iqbal’s wife, Hamida Akhtar, admitted a charge of perverting the course of justice.

Akhtar, 41, of Spring Road, Birmingham, was sentenced to six months in prison after she made calls and texts to Iqbal’s second victim.

The court heard the woman also received calls and texts from Akhtar trying to persuade her to withdraw the complaint against her husband in return for money.

Jennet Treharne, for Akhtar, said she committed her crime out of a sense of duty to her children and husband.

Judge Morgan told her: “Your misfortune was to be married to a very, very bad man.”