A 40-year-old taxi driver was sentenced to five months in prison by the Copenhagen City Court (Københavns Byret) on Wednesday for repeated sexual offenses against female passengers. Prosecutor Tassi Louise Nørskov-Jensen described the driver as extremely boundary-crossing and a conscious perpetrator during the trial. She emphasized that his actions were systematic and intentional, highlighting that his self-perception as service-oriented and professional was misleading given the serious nature of the case.

The convicted taxi driver pleaded not guilty and immediately appealed the ruling. He was found guilty on most of the charges, which included violations of public decency and sexual assault in forms other than intercourse. However, he was acquitted of one charge where he was accused of forcing a woman to kiss him and assess his genitals.

The seriousness of the case was underscored by surveillance footage showing a heavily intoxicated female passenger who repeatedly vomited and later fell asleep in the taxi. The videos also depicted the driver guiding the woman’s hand toward his groin while she was unable to defend herself.

During the trial, the 40-year-old made the concerning statement that he believed a woman’s “no” often meant “yes,” further illustrating his lack of understanding of consent. Prosecutor Tassi Louise Nørskov-Jensen hopes that the sentence will send a clear signal to society that consent is essential and clearly defined.

The driver’s attempt to appeal will proceed, as the case will now move to a higher court following his immediate appeal of the verdict.