Violence Against Women
Sadly, you could write an entire blog site on the way the UK's criminal justice system operates and here's another example - this time about the manner in which courts respond to violence against women.
Now 18 months in prison seems a ridiculous sentence to me for someone who effectively kidnapped his victim, terrorised and attacked her, and denied his crime until three years later he was eventually found guilty in the High Court.
And this was regarded as a 'serious assault' because Cullen abused his position of trust as his passenger was supposed to be in a safe place, heading home.
Perhaps the most chilling aspect of the case is that a smiling Cullen gave a thumbs up to his wife as he left the court and was taken off to jail according to this report from the BBC.
Taxi driver Patrick Cullen jailed for sex attack
And this was regarded as a 'serious assault' because Cullen abused his position of trust as his passenger was supposed to be in a safe place, heading home.
Perhaps the most chilling aspect of the case is that a smiling Cullen gave a thumbs up to his wife as he left the court and was taken off to jail according to this report from the BBC.
Taxi driver Patrick Cullen jailed for sex attack
Cullen claimed he had "consenting" sex with the terrified woman
A taxi driver has been jailed for 18 months for sexually assaulting a young woman after being linked to the crime through a relative's DNA sample.
Patrick Cullen, 44, forced his 24-year-old victim to perform a sex act in a lane in Milngavie, East Dunbartonshire, in February 2011.
Despite a police e-fit appeal, Cullen was only traced when a relative appeared on the national DNA database.
He was also placed on the sex offenders' register for 10 years.
At the High Court in Glasgow, judge Lord Matthews said the assault was "serious" adding: "The aggravating feature was that you were a taxi driver - your job was to take the woman home."
A smiling Cullen gave a thumbs-up to his wife in court as he was led handcuffed to the cells.
During his trial, Cullen insisted that the woman agreed to what happened in his car and that she "enjoyed" it.
He said: "It was two consenting adults performing a sex act."
Cullen also claimed - despite media appeals and the e-fit - that he had never been asked about the incident until police came to his door.
'Rude questions'
The trial heard how Cullen, of Moodiesburn, North Lanarkshire, had been working for the former Strathclyde Radio Cars at the time of the attack.
He picked up his victim in Glassford Street, Glasgow, in the early hours of 19 February 2011.
Soon into the journey, Cullen - who claimed his name was Gary - began quizzing his passenger on her sexuality and asking "rude questions".
The woman, who cannot be named for legal reasons, told the court: "He was going about how girls have sex, things like that. I felt uncomfortable - I don't like when people ask questions like that."
Cullen then told the worried woman that he was "feeling horny". He soon drove his private hire Chrysler vehicle into a quiet area in Finlay Rise, Milngavie, before halting the vehicle.
A taxi driver has been jailed for 18 months for sexually assaulting a young woman after being linked to the crime through a relative's DNA sample.
Patrick Cullen, 44, forced his 24-year-old victim to perform a sex act in a lane in Milngavie, East Dunbartonshire, in February 2011.
Despite a police e-fit appeal, Cullen was only traced when a relative appeared on the national DNA database.
He was also placed on the sex offenders' register for 10 years.
At the High Court in Glasgow, judge Lord Matthews said the assault was "serious" adding: "The aggravating feature was that you were a taxi driver - your job was to take the woman home."
A smiling Cullen gave a thumbs-up to his wife in court as he was led handcuffed to the cells.
During his trial, Cullen insisted that the woman agreed to what happened in his car and that she "enjoyed" it.
He said: "It was two consenting adults performing a sex act."
Cullen also claimed - despite media appeals and the e-fit - that he had never been asked about the incident until police came to his door.
'Rude questions'
The trial heard how Cullen, of Moodiesburn, North Lanarkshire, had been working for the former Strathclyde Radio Cars at the time of the attack.
He picked up his victim in Glassford Street, Glasgow, in the early hours of 19 February 2011.
Soon into the journey, Cullen - who claimed his name was Gary - began quizzing his passenger on her sexuality and asking "rude questions".
The woman, who cannot be named for legal reasons, told the court: "He was going about how girls have sex, things like that. I felt uncomfortable - I don't like when people ask questions like that."
Cullen then told the worried woman that he was "feeling horny". He soon drove his private hire Chrysler vehicle into a quiet area in Finlay Rise, Milngavie, before halting the vehicle.
Victim 'scared'
Recalling her ordeal, the woman said: "He told me to get into the back of the car. I was scared, but I did it."
Cullen then indecently assaulted his victim and made her perform a sex act on him while ignoring her loud sobs.
She only escaped when he dropped her home and demanded she hand over the £7 fare.
The victim called police and a hunt began to catch Cullen.
DNA was found near the scene and the woman was also able to help construct an e-fit of her attacker - which bore a resemblance to Cullen.
He went undetected until more than 18 months after the attack when a relative - for a reason unstated in court - had a DNA check.
It is thought the DNA had similarities to that discovered at the scene and police eventually arrested Cullen in September 2012.
Recalling her ordeal, the woman said: "He told me to get into the back of the car. I was scared, but I did it."
Cullen then indecently assaulted his victim and made her perform a sex act on him while ignoring her loud sobs.
She only escaped when he dropped her home and demanded she hand over the £7 fare.
The victim called police and a hunt began to catch Cullen.
DNA was found near the scene and the woman was also able to help construct an e-fit of her attacker - which bore a resemblance to Cullen.
He went undetected until more than 18 months after the attack when a relative - for a reason unstated in court - had a DNA check.
It is thought the DNA had similarities to that discovered at the scene and police eventually arrested Cullen in September 2012.
