A FORMER taxi driver has been jailed for exposing himself to a young woman passenger.

Alexander Naismith, 57, who kept Viagra in his cab, made dirty comments to the woman when she was alone in his taxi in the early hours, York Crown Court heard. She told a jury how he threatened to keep her locked in his cab after suggesting they perform a sex act together and when she got out, told her not to tell anyone.

Naismith, of Burtonstone Lane, York, was jailed for nine months for indecent exposure committed on July 25, 2015, and will be on the sex offenders’ register for 10 years. He had denied the charge but was convicted by the jury.

York Press:

His then employer Station Taxis suspended him as soon as management heard about the allegations and he has not worked for the firm since. Its director Keith Hatfield said: “He will never work as a taxi driver again. He would never get his licence back.”

He said women and children are safe in the firm’s taxis, adding: “Nothing comes before that.”

All the firm’s drivers have criminal record checks and are suspended if they behave inappropriately towards passengers. He had never heard of a similar case in York.

Detective Constable Clair Bailey-Lane, of York police’s investigation hub, said: “Alexander Naismith held a position of trust with direct access to lone female passengers who entered his taxi expecting to be safely transported home.” She said that trust was “grossly abused” by Naismith, adding: “He has shown no remorse throughout the trial and subjected his victim to not just the original offence, but to the ordeal of attending court and giving evidence.”