Chilling moment predator Uber driver stalks victim before raping her in horrific sex attack as she walked home
THIS is the chilling moment a predator Uber driver stalked his victim before raping her in a horrific sex attack as she walked home.
Daniel Hayelom targeted the woman after he saw her in Beeston, West Yorkshire, at around 6am.
The 36-year-old was captured driving past her multiple times before parking up.
He lay in wait in the darkness while watching the victim ready to strike.
Hayelom then approached her on foot – making sure to look around so he would not be disturbed.
He vanishes out of shot momentarily where he engaged the woman in conversation.
The predator then dragged the woman into an alleyway at the side of a Poundland store and raped her.
Hayelom, who was off-duty at the time, then calmly returns to his car.
He has now been found guilty of raping the woman after a trial at Leeds Crown Court.
The horror unfolded on October 22, 2023, as the victim, who was aged in her 40s, walked home from a party.
Jurors heard she had been drinking and was too drunk to consent to any sexual activity.
Following the attack, officers trawled through CCTV in the area to trace the woman’s movements.
They managed to identify the Uber‘s registration and later arrested Hayelom.
Senior Investigating Officer, Detective Chief Inspector James Entwistle said: “Hayelom targeted the victim as someone he saw as being vulnerable at the time. He could have helped her to get home safely but instead he chose to prey on her for his own gratification.
“His actions have had a significant traumatic impact on the victim, and we commend her for the courage and mental fortitude she has shown during the investigation and the court process that has resulted in his conviction.
“We hope she can find some degree of comfort in seeing him held criminally accountable for what he did to her.
“Women and girls should be safe to live their lives free from the fear of violence and harassment, and we remain fully committed to working alongside our partner agencies to make the county a safer place.
“Taking dangerous offenders like Hayelom off the streets will always remain a key part of our work to keep women and girls safe.
“Our professional and sensitive handling of this investigation should help to demonstrate to others how seriously we will always treat offences of this nature.”
Hayelom will be sentenced at the same court on May 2.