Uber Eats driver jailed for raping customer

An Uber Eats delivery driver who raped a customer just hours after delivering food to her home has been jailed.

Jitendrakumar Prajapati, 30, struck up a conversation with the "vulnerable" woman when he dropped off her food order during the day on 19 January. He returned to her home in Boston hours later and attacked her, Lincolnshire Police said.

He was arrested that same night after the victim notified police.

The driver, who pleaded guilty to rape and sexual assault, was sentenced to three years and nine months in prison at Lincoln Crown Court on Friday.

Prajapati must also sign the sex offenders register for life.

Detectives said during the initial delivery, Prajapati told the victim he did not know anyone as he had recently moved to the area and he needed help getting a visa and a job, before asking for her Instagram account details.

They exchanged phone numbers so he could stay in touch and get help with his visa application, in what officers described as him exploiting the victim's "good nature".

When he returned to the property at about 17:00 GMT, they chatted but then things took a sinister turn and he raped her, police said.

After he left, Prajapati sent a message to the woman saying: "Hey I am sorry", before changing his WhatsApp username and then enabling 'disappearing chat after 24 hours'.

Further messages were exchanged and the victim accused him of raping her. His responses were apologetic and he begged her not to tell anyone, detectives said.

Prajapati was initially arrested on suspicion of rape and non-fatal strangulation, but the latter charge was later dropped in court, police said.

Det Con Jessica McKiernan commended the victim's courage and said: "Her bravery has been vital in ensuring he is now held to account."

The BBC has contacted Uber Eats for comment.

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