Fake Taxi Driver Jailed for 20 Years for Kidnap and Rape in Brighton
File photo of the taxi rank at Brighton station, which is not the scene of the offence. Photo: John Lucas, geograph.org.uk, CC BY-SA 2.0
A 61-year-old man who posed as a taxi driver in Brighton city centre and kidnapped and raped a 19-year-old woman has been jailed for 20 years, Sussex Police has announced. Ruckling Ramsay, of Wanstead in London, was sentenced at Inner London Crown Court on Monday 7 September.
Police say the attack happened on 3 July 2022 and that Ramsay was found guilty of all counts at trial. The force published its account of the case on 28 September 2026 and has appealed for any other women who may have been targeted to come forward.
Source: Sussex Police, "Fake taxi driver jailed for 20 years for kidnap and rape", published 11.58am on 28 September 2026
What Sussex Police says happened
According to the force's account of the case:
- On 3 July 2022, Ramsay posed as a taxi driver in Brighton city centre and picked up a 19-year-old woman.
- She was sexually assaulted repeatedly while she was driven to several locations.
- She was able to text a friend, who tracked her location and collected her after she escaped.
- Officers traced Ramsay through his vehicle registration number and arrested him.
- The woman was given specialist support.
The verdict and sentence
Police say Ramsay was found guilty of all counts at Inner London Crown Court on 21 May 2026 and sentenced on 7 September to 20 years in prison, with an extended licence period of three years and six months.
The case involved two investigations. Sussex Police investigated the Brighton attack, and the Metropolitan Police investigated a separate report from a woman in Brixton, south London. The force says Ramsay was convicted of offences including rape, kidnap and sexual assault by penetration in the Sussex case, and kidnap, kidnap with intent to commit a sexual offence and sexual assault in the Met case.
Police also say a woman gave evidence at trial about a similar incident in 2009, which never led to charges.
What the officers said
Detective Chief Inspector Steve Cobbett, of Sussex Police, said:
Women and girls should be safe to live their lives without falling victim to predatory offenders.
DCI Steve Cobbett, Sussex Police
Police say DCI Cobbett also said there may be more women who were targeted by Ramsay, and encouraged them to come forward.
Detective Constable Kieran Mulvaney, of the Metropolitan Police, said of the woman who reported to the Met:
Her report has been central to securing this conviction and ensuring a dangerous offender is held accountable.
DC Kieran Mulvaney, Metropolitan Police
If you have information or need support
Sussex Police says anyone who is a victim of crime, or who feels someone is vulnerable or in danger, should report it to officers or security staff, or call 999 in an emergency. You can also report online or call 101.
If you have been affected by sexual violence, these services are listed by the Safe in the City information site.
- The Saturn Centre is described there as the Sussex Sexual Assault Referral Centre, offering free support and practical help to anyone in Sussex who has experienced sexual abuse. It is open 24 hours a day on 0800 033 7797.
- Survivors Network is a specialist rape and sexual violence service for anyone in Sussex, on 01273 203380.
- Rape Crisis is the national umbrella body for Rape Crisis centres in England and Wales, on freephone 0808 802 9999.
How the case unfolded
Where this report came from
This is our own write-up of the notice Sussex Police published on its website at 11.58am on 28 September 2026. Every detail comes from that notice, and we have kept to what the police and court have said. You can read the original here:
Sources and further reading
This article is based on the Sussex Police notice of 28 September 2026. For more court and crime news, see court, Brighton crime and crime coverage on ImJustBrighton, and the latest from Brighton and Hove.
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