Fake taxi driver Nicolae Zgherea jailed for false imprisonment of visually impaired woman in Dublin
In the early hours of 8 May 2022, a visually impaired woman in Dublin got into the car of Nicolae Zgherea, a 30-year-old man, at a taxi rank believing he was a taxi driver. After realising there was no licence or meter, she asked him to pull over but he continued driving until a 999 operator convinced him to stop on Mespil Road. Zgherea, who was not a taxi driver, pleaded guilty to false imprisonment at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Judge Orla Crowe sentenced him to four years, with the final 12 months suspended on strict conditions, after reducing the headline sentence of five years.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In courtnot reported
- Verdictnot reported
- Sentenced12 Oct
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- The woman got into Zgherea's car at a taxi rank believing he was a taxi driver, realised there was no licence or meter, asked him to pull over but he continued driving until a 999 operator convinced him to stop.
- Where
- The incident began at a taxi rank in Dublin and Zgherea pulled over on Mespil Road.
- When
- The incident occurred in the early hours of 8 May 2022.
- Cause
- Zgherea was not a taxi driver and was not operating a taxi when he stopped at the rank.
- Investigation
- The woman called 999 and put her phone on loudspeaker; the emergency operator convinced Zgherea to pull over and the call lasted just under two and a half minutes.
- Charges
- Zgherea pleaded guilty to false imprisonment.
- In court
- The case was heard at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court before Judge Orla Crowe.
- Sentence
- Judge Orla Crowe sentenced Zgherea to four years with the final 12 months suspended on strict conditions, after reducing the headline sentence of five years.
- Other details
- The woman is visually impaired and describes herself as almost completely blind in the dark; she was in a distressed state when gardaí arrived and was unable to work for a period after the incident.
- Zgherea has 11 previous convictions, all for road traffic offences, and is married with two children and works full-time.
15 statements extracted from the articles
- whatThe woman realised there was no taxi licence or meter displayed and asked Zgherea to pull over but he continued driving (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe woman called 999 and the emergency operator convinced Zgherea to pull over (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe emergency call lasted just under two and a half minutes (irishmirror.ie)
- whereZgherea pulled over on Mespil Road (irishmirror.ie)
- whenThe incident occurred in the early hours of 8 May 2022 (irishmirror.ie)
- chargeZgherea pleaded guilty to false imprisonment (irishmirror.ie)
- courtThe case was heard at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court before Judge Orla Crowe (irishmirror.ie)
- sentenceJudge Orla Crowe sentenced Zgherea to four years with the final 12 months suspended on strict conditions (irishmirror.ie)
- otherThe headline sentence was five years, reduced to four years (irishmirror.ie)
- otherZgherea has 11 previous convictions, all for road traffic offences (irishmirror.ie)
- otherThe woman is visually impaired and describes herself as almost completely blind in the dark (irishmirror.ie)
- otherZgherea was not a taxi driver and not operating a taxi when he stopped at the rank (irishmirror.ie)
- otherThe woman was unable to work for a period of time after the incident (irishmirror.ie)
- otherZgherea is married with two children and works full-time (irishmirror.ie)
- otherThe woman was in a distressed state when gardaí arrived at the scene (irishmirror.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 12 Oct2026Fake taxi driver jailed for false imprisonment of visually impaired woman
Sentencing report: headline sentence of five years reduced to four years, final 12 months suspended on strict conditions. Mitigating factors included a letter of unreserved apology, strong work history, and being the father of two young children. Zgherea has 11 previous convictions, all for road traffic offences.
victim, femaleconvicted, Nicolae Zgherea, 30, male, named, non-irish (judged from name)Nicolae Zgherea