TWO vile sexual predators who targeted a teenager outside a nightclub in Warrington town centre have been jailed.

Omed Mahmood dragged the 18-year-old victim into accomplice Jojo Thirunilam’s taxi before sexually assaulting her after she fell unconscious.

Bolton Crown Court heard that the former approached several women in central Warrington in the early hours of Sunday, October 31 2021, after a night out before ‘selecting his target’ and walking her to a taxi rank.

At around 5am, Thirunilam – of Cronulla Drive in Great Sankey – then drove them to Mahmood’s home in Atherton.

As he did so, the woman fell asleep and the latter sexually assaulted and attempted to rape the teen in the back seats during an hour-long trip – the vehicle having initially been bound for Liverpool before altering its course – as his driver watched in the rear view mirror and ‘made licking gestures with his tongue’.

Mahmood, of Brooklands Avenue, ‘forcefully pulled the victim from the vehicle’ and carried her into his address upon arrival and continued to attack her as she slipped in and out of conscious.

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She fled to a nearby store to seek help after waking up in a ‘distressed state’ nearly two hours later, not knowing where she was or how she had got there.

The two defendants did not know each other before the shocking assault, with Thirunilam having been paid off to turn a blind eye to what was happening in his cab.

Mahmood was caged for nine years today, Tuesday, after the 40-year-old admitted four counts of sexual assault and attempted rape - as well as being found guilty of three further charges of sexual assault and one of attempted rape following a four-day trial.

Thirunilam, 49, was locked up for 18 months after pleading guilty to two offences of aiding and abetting an offender.

Warrington Guardian:

Senior crown prosecutor Craig Cleminson, of the Crown Prosecution Service’s north west rape and serious sexual offences unit, said: “A vulnerable young woman was subjected to a prolonged sexual assault in the back of a taxi by a stranger and again in his home in this truly shocking case.

“Omed Mahmood showed predatory behaviour as he approached females outside a nightclub before focussing his attention on a young woman who was clearly intoxicated.

“Jojo Thirunilam not only did nothing to prevent him, he actively enabled him.

“We worked closely with the police to build a strong case against both men including collating a large amount of CCTV evidence from outside the club and inside the taxi, which left both men to plead guilty to the offences committed in the taxi.

“After considering all the evidence against Mahmood, the jury found him guilty of the offences in his home not captured on CCTV.

“I would like to commend this young woman for standing up to the man who abused her and the man who aided and abetted him to do so.

“Her immense strength is demonstrated in her victim impact statement, where she said ‘I will not let this vile man take away my spirit or ruin my life’.

“I sincerely hope that, as both men begin their sentences, she can put this traumatic incident behind her and move on with her life.”

Thirunilam was also made to sign the sex offenders’ register, while his taxi licence was previously suspended by Warrington Borough Council.

Detective sergeant Andrew Devine added: “First and foremost, our thoughts are with the victim and her family who have understandably been through a horrific time – especially during the trial, where explicit details were heard.

“Detectives immediately launched an investigation and arrested Mahmood within 48 hours of the incident.

“They carefully pieced together hours off CCTV to understand the events of that night. “Mahmood is a sexual predator, and his monstrous actions that saw him prey on a vulnerable young woman are absolutely unspeakable.

“I’m glad he is behind bars and the streets are a safer place for women without him.

“Thirunilam could have helped the victim and prevented the sexual assaults from happening in his vehicle, but instead he chose to watch and encourage Mahmood despite not even knowing him.

“Violence against women and girls is one of GMP’s priorities and officers are working every day to make the region a safer place.

“We will use absolutely every power we have available to us to protect women from perpetrators like these two men.”