Taxi driver imprisoned for fondling woman's breasts and privates

A  38-year-old taxi driver who recently grabbed headlines when he allegedly attempted to sexually abuse his client stunned the court when he claimed that he did not know that it was a criminal offence to fondle a woman's breasts and private parts.

Rickson Shoriwa (38) of Nkulumane 10 made the startling revelations when he appeared before Bulawayo magistrate Miss Marylene Mtshina. He was being charged with indecent assault.

The father of three did not waste court time when he pleaded guilty to the offence leading to his subsequent conviction and was sentenced to eight months imprisonment.

However, the comical Shoriwa had every reason to smile when six months of the sentence were suspended for five years on condition of good behaviour with the remaining two months being suspended on condition that he pays a fine of US$150.

The State case as presented by prosecutor Mr Admire Chikwayi was that Shoriwa propose love to his client and was spurned. As 'punishment' for being snubbed, he caressed her all over her body before he attempted to force himself on her. The woman wrestled with Shoriwa who was sexually supercharged and she overpowered him before opening the doors of the car and made a escape.

Shoriwa who was overpowered tried to follow her but reserved his strided when he saw the complainant narrating her ordeal to two men who were heading the same direction. The matter was reported to the police leading to the arrest of the accused person.

In mitigation, the apologetic Shoriwa pleaded with the court to spare him the agony of jail life saying when he committed the offence he did not know that he was committing an offence.