Taxi driver Bobby Johnson sentenced on five counts of rape of vulnerable passenger

A woman who was brutally gang raped after getting into a taxi and then left in a drain wearing nothing but a bra described how her life was shattered by the crime. Warning: Graphic

Alice’s life changed forever after entering a taxi outside Gilligan's nightclub.

A woman who was brutally gang raped in a secluded spot near the Northern Pride Rugby League Club in Cairns and left in a drain wearing nothing but a bra described how her happy life was shattered as a consequence of the crime.

The woman, Alice Smith (not her real name), and her friends ended a night out piling into a taxi outside Gilligan’s nightclub, but there was no room for Alice and she said she’d catch another cab.

She got into a cab with a driver with evil intentions.

Both driver Bobby Johnson and his mate Jacob Lahai, a top soccer player, have been sentenced to prison on multiple counts of rape.

Alice’s life is changed for ever.

Bobby Johnson was sentenced to ten years in prison after his rape conviction. Picture: Anna Rogers

Alice managed to walk eight blocks to a phone booth at 4am and called triple-000, begging police “don’t hang up on me, please” and saying “I need help, please”, “I want to go home” and “I feel so alone”.

She was admitted to Cairns Hospital overnight.

In a victim impact statement submitted to Cairns District Court Judge Dean Morzone KC by prosecutor Stephanie Williams on Friday, Alice described how she had been happy and outgoing before the rapes and was now withdrawn and isolated and battling alcohol addiction.

“What happened to me that night shocked me and caused me so much pain, I am not the same person,” Alice said.

“I remember being in pain at the time and crying a lot, it was so hard and painful. I have flashbacks, especially when alone.

“I also felt shame, the pain was too much for me to handle, and I wanted to do something bad, I wanted to end my life but didn’t want to hurt my family,” she said.

In 2020 Jacob Lahai was sentenced to nine years in prison following a rape conviction. Picture: Anna Rogers

“What they did made me feel embarrassed and ashamed, I used to be social and happy and am now isolated. They have taken away my happiness.

“Everyone in my community found out, and I felt shame and judgment of others in the community.”

Judge Morzone said Alice was vulnerable, intoxicated and alone and as the taxi driver, Johnson was in a position of responsibility and trust.

“She speaks about how you have taken away her happiness, she has shocking, painful and overwhelming trauma that continues to wreak damage on her life,” Judge Morzone said.

He said after Alice was “raped roughly and painfully and left on the side of the road” she felt overwhelming shame and immediately contemplated suicide.

Alice said she often cried herself to sleep, felt insecure and unsafe around men, was too scared to use a taxi, and had turned to alcohol in her immense pain.

“I feel like they took my power from me, I know I have love and support of my culture and family but it has caused me so much pain and suffering,” Alice said in her statement.

“I am a proud and strong Aboriginal woman and I am still standing.”

Originally published as Taxi driver Bobby Johnson sentenced on five counts of rape of vulnerable passenger