Sun Sep 15 15:10:34 UTC 2024: ## Brave Teen Speaks Out After Taxi Driver’s Sexual Assault

**Derry, Northern Ireland:** A young woman who was sexually assaulted by a taxi driver in 2017 is speaking out about her ordeal and advocating for tougher punishments for sex offenders.

Chloe, now a law student, was 18 when she was attacked by Paul Bryan, a 63-year-old driver from Newtowncunningham, Co. Donegal. Bryan was sentenced to two years in prison this week after pleading guilty to two charges of sexual assault.

Chloe, who describes herself as a survivor, expressed her disappointment with the sentence, feeling it was too lenient for the trauma he inflicted. She also highlighted her frustration with the length of time it took for the case to reach court, taking seven years.

In her victim impact statement, Chloe detailed the ongoing psychological impact of the assault, stating that she lives with constant fear, anxiety, and difficulty trusting people. She also lamented the lack of support for victims during the justice system process.

“While I lay on a steel autopsy table… being swabbed and photographed by adults I didn’t know… I felt like I was on trial,” Chloe stated.

She is now calling for significant changes to the way sex crimes are handled, including:

* A publicly-available register of sex offenders with photos and names.
* Lifetime registration for convicted sex offenders, instead of the current 10-year maximum.
* Faster processing of sex crimes in the courts.
* Mandatory CCTV or dashcam cameras in taxis.

Chloe’s case is not isolated. In July, another taxi driver, Raymond Shorten, was sentenced to 17 years for two separate assaults on young women. This string of cases highlights the vulnerability of passengers who rely on taxis for safe transport.

Chloe’s powerful story serves as a call for action, urging authorities to prioritize the safety and well-being of victims and implement stronger measures to protect the public from sex offenders.

**To support Chloe’s campaign, sign her petition at:** [link to petition]

Read More