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Rape boxer posed as city cabbie
A SHEFFIELD boxer tipped as a promising prospect for a British title has been locked up for seven years for rape - after attacking his victim while posing as a city taxi driver.
Muhsen Nasser, aged 24, of Newman Road, Wincobank, was found guilty of the sex attack after a trial at Sheffield Crown Court and has been placed on the Sex Offenders' Register for life.
The light-middleweight boxer was sitting in his car on West Street in the early hours of February 21 when his 18-year-old victim walked over to him and asked if he was a taxi driver.
He lied and said he was, and offered to take her home. But midway through the journey he stopped his car and forced the young woman into a sex act before eventually dropping her off close to her home.
The brave 18-year-old told The Star in an exclusive interview that she will "never be the same again" following the attack - and issued a warning to other girls getting a taxi late at night.
Detective Constable Juliet Faram, who investigated the case, echoed the teenager's warning.
"The victim left a nightclub to get a taxi, saw Nasser parked in a bus stop, and walked over to him to ask if he was a taxi. He said yes so she got in his car," she said.
"She did not realise it was not a black cab.
"This serves as a reminder of the importance of making sure you are travelling in official taxis and our advice would be to always try to share with friends."
Nasser, who was born in Yemen, built up a reputation as a boxer of the future at Brendan Ingle's renowned gym at Wincobank. In December 2008 he fought for the WBC welterweight youth world championship in Germany and narrowly lost on points, but trainers were hopeful he would eventually land a British title.
Trainer Brendan, whose most famous protege is Naseem Hamed, said Nasser first started using his gym when he was around 10 years old and, at his peak, he was training every day.
"He moved from the Shiregreen area to live in the old house Naseem Hamed's family used to live in," he said.
"Before that he used to be here every day but then he just stopped coming.
"We always had such high hopes for him - he only narrowly lost out on a junior world championship and we thought he would come back from that and eventually win a title. I am shocked, and everyone who knows him is shocked.
"He used to be dedicated to his training but a few months ago he just stopped coming and went totally off the radar."
Nasser is a Sheffield University computer studies graduate who got married earlier this year after travelling back to Yemen and bringing his new wife back to the UK.
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Saturday 26 May 2012
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