A WOMAN who ruined a taxi driver's live by falsely accusing him of rape has been jailed for three years today.

Laura Hood, 27, claimed she was sexually assaulted in the back seat, leading to Harron Yousaf's arrest on rape charges.

5 Laura Hood was jailed for three years today Credit: Mercury Press

5 The 27-year-old falsely accused a taxi driver of rape Credit: Mercury Press

Mr Yousaf, 29, was forced to spend 20 hours in custody after Laura Hood made the claims after a drunken night out in Manchester city centre.

Hood got into a taxi with him, who drove her the 26 minute journey home to Stockport via a cash point.

Today she sobbed as she was handed a three-year jail sentence after she was found guilty of perverting the course of justice.

In a statement Mr Yousaf said: "This still affects me in my day-to-day life and I don't know if I will ever come back fully from this.

"Before this incident I was a strong person.

"This is the most disgusting thing that anyone can be accused of.

"When I pick up single female passengers I always worry that something could happen again."

This is the most disgusting thing that anyone can be accused of. When I pick up single female passengers I always worry that something could happen again. Taxi driver Yaroon Husaf

Mr Yousaf, a married father of two, says his arrest in front of his colleagues left him utterly humiliated.

"I had to take my clothes off in front of a stranger," he said.

"I had tears in my eyes. I don't think this female really understands what she has done and how it has affected my life."

Judge Julie Warburton said: “You we’re convicted by jury of perverting the course of justice by making a false allegation of rape against an entirely innocent taxi driver.

“Rape is one of the most serious allegations about a man. To make a false allegation of rape about a person can ruin a person’s life and reputation.

“Your actions showed blatant disregard for the rights of these men and the effects of making such allegations of people.

"What you did strikes at the very heart of criminal justice, not only on innocent people’s lives being potentially destroyed, but there is a tendency to damage the public’s perception of the criminal justice system and the impact on the administration of justice in rape cases generally.”



TRACKING DEVICE

Hood made her false claims of rape after losing her gold iPhone 5s and becoming separated from her friends during a night out in which she knocked back Prosecco, ciders and vodka shots.

Mr Yousaf, who was cleared of any wrongdoing, was able to prove his innocence when he gave details of a tracking device linked to the black cab.

It showed he had driven straight to Hood's home in Stockport, Greater Manchester without stopping.

There was also no evidence of physical contact between them.

A second taxi driver who was earlier arrested was also cleared of any wrongdoing.

At Minshull Street Crown Court, Manchester, Hood was convicted of perverting the course of justice after the jury of nine women and three men took six hours to reach their 10-2 majority guilty verdict.

She accepted no rape took place but denied wrongdoing, insisting she had she "believed" at the time she was sexually assaulted.

The incident took place on January 7, 2017, after Hood had been out with friends at Revolution bar to celebrate her best friend's birthday.

If it were not for that tracker data Mr Yousaf may have found himself on trial for rape because the defendant made up a story about him Prosecutor Geoff Whelan

Prosecutor Geoff Whelan told the court Hood had got out of the taxi to withdraw cash before completing the 26 minute journey shortly after 1am.

The defendant gave him £30 and told him to "keep the change", Mr Whelan said.

Later that night Hood started "sobbing uncontrollably" and said she'd been raped.

She gave police a graphic false account of what had happened, claiming her attacker was an Asian male of around 58 with a thin face, no beard and no facial hair.

"If it were not for that tracker data Mr Yousaf may have found himself on trial for rape because the defendant made up a story about him," he said.

He added: "She accepts that she was in Mr Yousaf’s taxi and she accepts that he drove her home.

I wish I could explain why something is so clear in my head but obviously can’t be true. Claimant Laura Hood

"She further accepts that Mr Yousaf did not rape her - but says, somehow that she honestly believed she was raped whilst in that taxi."

In mitigation, her defence lawyer Thomas McKail said: “She was a woman of good character. A woman who has no cautions and has led a law abiding life until her conviction.

"During the proceedings her mental help deteriorated and has been a long standing issue for Miss Hood. "Her psychiatric report notes her mental health problems and she fulfils the criteria for a mild depressive disorder.

“She has lost her good character and this will have a massive impact on her life going forward, domestically and career wise. I would ask for an element of leniency as it is her first offence.”

Hood told the hearing: "I wish I could explain why something is so clear in my head but obviously can’t be true.

"I accept there’s no psychiatric evidence to explain why I believed this to have happened. I went to the psychiatrists on two occasions.

MOST READ NEWS HAPPY MEAL McDonald’s worker pays customer’s bill after he calls mum to ask for her order Latest 'BIG FRIENDLY BEAR' 'True gent' sergeant shot dead by gunman who tried to kill 2 more cops Exclusive HAPPY MEAL McDonald’s worker who paid for lad’s meal has secretly bought food for MONTHS HERE WE SNOW! Leeds hit by SNOW as temps plummet to -5 as Brits brace for 65mph gusts today Latest LAST HURRAH Boozers hit the town before new lockdown in Leeds & Blackpool - is London next? DAYTIME DRINKING Nightclubs to open from 3pm with half-price drinks to beat 10pm curfew

"It was clear as day. What I said in interview is what I believed to have happened. I wish I could explain it. I wish the psychiatrist could have helped me.

"I don’t know how something can be so clear in my head but the evidence said it didn’t happen."

5 Laura, pictured outside court in June, previously denied perverting the course of justice Credit: Cavendish Press

5 She told officers she was raped after a night out, jurors heard Credit: Cavendish Press

5 Hood had broken down when she returned home, it was said Credit: Cavendish Press

We pay for your stories! Do you have a story for The Sun Online news team? Email us at tips@the-sun.co.uk or call 0207 782 4368 . You can WhatsApp us on 07810 791 502. We pay for videos too. Click here to upload yours.