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Woman raped then asked to push start car

A BOGUS taxi driver raped a woman then tried to force her to help push start his car so he could flee from the scene.

The victim had been celebrating Manchester's Pride festival with friends and thought she had got into a private-hire car in the city centre.

She got into the vehicle in Sackville Street during the early hours of Sunday morning and asked to be taken home.

The woman saw the driver programme her address into his satellite navigation system and felt sure that she was in a private hire car.

But she quickly realised the driver was going the wrong way. The man took her to a quiet part of the city's Northern Quarter where he carried out the attack - then asked her to give the car a push when it wouldn't start. The woman then ran off.

A 42-year old man has been arrested on suspicion of rape and bailed until November 17 pending further inquiries.

Detective Constable Louise Henson said: "This woman had just gone out to have fun with her friends and has ended up being violated in the most awful way.

"She thought she would get a taxi home for safety, but has instead been abused by somebody in a position to take advantage of a woman on her own.

"Town was incredibly busy that night and we want to appeal to anyone who might have been on Sackville Street at around 3am, and could have seen this taxi, to come forward immediately."

DC Henson added: "We'd also like to reassure the public that although incidents like this are frightening they are also very rare. There are a few simple safety measures that people can follow to make sure their nights out don't end with a horrible incident like this, and we'd urge people, especially women, to take notice of them."

Four years ago the Manchester Evening News mounted a campaign to crack down on bogus private hire drivers in the city, which was widely supported by police and legitimate private hire companies.

Police say advice on getting home safely after a night out includes trying to pre-book a taxi before going out, and arranging to be picked up from a safe, well lit, meeting point.

They say lone women should book a taxi firm they know and trust and never get into a private hire car unless it has been pre-booked. Only Hackney carriages - traditional black cabs - are insured to carry passengers who have flagged them down. Always sit in the back, preferably behind the driver.

Anyone with information is asked to contact police on 0161 856 3240 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.

http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk:80/news/s/1015/1015168_woman_raped_then_asked_to_push_start_car.html