A 64-year-old taxi driver named Lance Melville Percival, residing in Oxted, has been sentenced to 12 and a half years in prison by the Guildford Crown Court. He admitted to eight charges of engaging in sexual acts with a mentally impaired person, four counts of rape, two counts of sexual assault, and two counts of penetration assault.
Percival recorded 16 videos over a five-year period, between 2021 and 2024, during trips to the victim’s support services. The survivor can be heard pleading for him to stop in some of the recordings, indicating the distressing nature of the abuse.
The victim, who lacked a full understanding of the events, never reported the crimes due to the manipulation and grooming tactics employed by Percival. Surrey Police, upon uncovering the allegations, promptly revoked Percival’s taxi license issued by Tandridge District Council.
Detective Constable Marc Taylor of Surrey Police’s Sexual Offences Investigation Team described Percival as a sexual predator who exploited the victim’s vulnerability. He commended the investigative team for their efforts in bringing Percival to justice without subjecting the survivor to a trial.
As part of his sentence, Percival received a restraining order preventing contact with the survivor and her immediate family, along with a Sexual Harm Prevention Order. This case underscores the seriousness with which sexual offences are treated and the commitment to holding perpetrators accountable.