Police Hunt For 'cabbie' Rapist
11th September 2008
A rapist may have posed as a late-night taxi driver to attack a young woman in his car at an isolated spot on the outskirts of Torquay, police believe.
They are not ruling out the possibility the offender — who had picked up the girl in Paignton — may have used the elaborate ploy to ensnare his victim in Dolphin Court Road at 1.30am on Sunday.
Detectives hunting the sex attacker say they are anxious to establish what happened between this time and 3am when the distressed teenager raised the alarm outside properties at the top of Barton Hill Road in Torquay.
Bay police commander Chris Singer (pictured) said: "Given the nature of the events, this was clearly an extremely traumatic experience for the victim."
So far the youngster has been unable to give police a detailed account of what actually happened.
They were hoping a clearer picture might emerge during her interview with specially-trained officers at Torquay police station’s rape suite late yesterday.
She was wearing a red item of clothing, which was lost sometime during her ordeal and she has been unable to give the location where she was raped, except to say it was at a ‘rural location’ and in the vehicle.
Police are particularly anxious to trace the car which the girl thinks was blue with a taxi firm telephone number painted on its side.
The vehicle was also fitted with a roof sign light. Bay police commander Chris Singer said: "The alarm was raised by residents in Barton Hill Road who saw the girl was distressed. We attended and found a girl who said she had been raped after flagging down a taxi which took her to a rural location outside the Bay. She doesn’t know where."
He added: "Given the nature of the events, this was clearly an extremely traumatic experience for the victim."
"We are working closely with her in order to obtain a picture of what happened. This could take some time after what she has been through."
Supt Singer confirmed the rape happened inside the vehicle.
He and his team, led by Det Insp Paul Jones, want to hear from anyone who may have seen anything suspicious in the Paignton area late on Saturday night into Sunday morning. They are also keen to talk to anyone who may have seen a vehicle matching the description, albeit vague, of the blue taxi.
Supt Singer said exhaustive inquiries were being made with local taxi firms to see if staff could help with any information about any likely suspicious drivers they may know of.
He added: "We cannot rule out the possibility the driver of the vehicle may have been posing as a cabbie and he took elaborate measures to persuade his victim he was in a bona fide taxi. At the same time we are checking all local cab companies."
DI Jones said: "Details are still emerging as our officers interview this young woman."
He added: "In the meantime we’d urge anyone with information about this matter to come forward. It maybe someone saw the girl getting into the cab in Paignton or being set down in Torquay. A taxi driver in Torbay may have suspicions about an acquaintance."
"We are also trying to trace a red item clothing worn by the woman that night. It remains unaccounted for. We would like to hear from anyone who may have found it or seen it somewhere."
DI Jones stressed: "It is important these people come forward as soon as possible to assist us with our investigation. Information can be passed with confidence using the Crimestoppers number 0800 555111, quoting police reference 335 of September 10."
CCTV footage shot in specific locations pertinent to the rape inquiry are being examined, including material from cameras in the Barton Hill Road area.
The rape is the talk of local taxi ranks.
One Torquay cabbie said: "This is dreadful news. We hate this sort of thing because it puts us all in a bad light."
"But we know that no taxi driver would do this because he would lose his livelihood and, more importantly, the respect of his colleagues."
One resident in Barton Hill Road said: "I heard her distressed screams as she walked down the road. As she passed the end of the driveway her screams made me sit up in bed because the noise echoed up. Something horrible must have happened to her."
She added: "She woke me from a deep sleep and I rang the police immediately. While I was talking to the police I could still hear her screams."
"I feel dreadful I didn’t put on my dressing gown and run down to help her. I can’t even imagine if it had been one of my daughters."
"We live near the main road and there is often a lot of noise with big gangs going up and down the street late at night. The noise does unnerve you. But this was different. She was in terror. She was so distressed."
Source; thisissouthdevon.co.uk
Login
Register
FAQ
