A man who pretended to be a taxi driver in order to abduct an intoxicated woman was imprisoned after officers stopped him just before he could drive off. Kuldip Chahal approached the woman after she became separated from her companions during an evening out in Newcastle city centre on December 21, 2025. He was found guilty of kidnap after a one-week trial at Newcastle Crown Court in May. Chahal received a seven-year prison term, followed by a three-year extended licence, and was placed under a lifetime Sexual Harm Prevention Order. The case shows how police monitoring stopped what officers feared could have escalated into a more serious crime. The events began around 2:20 am as the woman waited for transport after losing contact with her friends. Chahal came up to her while she sat on the ground, helped her stand, and put his arm around her. He led her to his VW Golf parked ten minutes away on Fenkle Street. CCTV showed him placing her in the front passenger seat and walking to the driver’s side. Officers watching city centre cameras under Northumbria Police’s Operation Salus had tracked his actions. Believing the woman was at risk, they sent officers to stop the car before it departed. This led to his arrest and later conviction. The woman testified that the event had lasting effects on her life. She described herself as previously confident and outgoing, but said the incident left her feeling unsafe in everyday situations. She expressed anger that another person’s actions had altered her sense of security and prevented her from enjoying time with friends. Detective Constable Courtney Cran, who led the inquiry, praised the victim’s courage during the proceedings. She described Chahal as someone who targeted a vulnerable young woman trying to return home safely and showed no concern for the harm caused. Operation Salus aims to spot people at risk in the night-time economy, allowing quick intervention when something appears wrong. Officers monitoring the area noticed the situation and acted promptly, preventing the woman from being driven away.
