Man arrested after bogus taxi driver sexually assaults woman in WiganA 57-year-old man was arrested after a woman was sexually assaulted by a bogus taxi driver in Wigan.
Police say a 29-year-old was the victim of an "appalling sexual attack" in the Beech Hill area after being picked up in the town centre at around 4.10am on Sunday October 14.
Now officers are appealing to two women to come forward who they believe might be vital witnesses.
Two weeks after the initial attack, police arrested a 57-year-old man on Warrington Lane, Lower Ince, on suspicion of sexual assault, after a genuine taxi driver came across him.
Earlier in the night the genuine taxi driver had been approached by a young woman who told him that she had seen an appeal from the police on Facebook and that they were looking for the driver of the silver Nissan X Trail in connection with sexual offences.
This young woman told the taxi driver that the Nissan had attempted to pick up one of her friends but she left before the taxi driver could take her details.
When the man was arrested, a young woman was inside the Nissan, but she left before the police arrived.
Police are now appealing for these witnesses to come forward.
Officers are also appealing to other women who may have been approached by a man driving a Silver Nissan X-Trail, or who have seen this vehicle in suspicious circumstances.
The woman who spoke to the taxi driver was said to be in her late 20s or early 30s, of a medium build with shoulder length dark hair and wearing a maroon jumper.
She spoke to the driver near the taxi rank at Brocol House, King Street.
The second woman, said to be in the car, was white, in her late teens to early 20s, of a slim build with bleached blonde hair and wearing a cream or white short dress.
The man arrested has been bailed until 14 November 2012 pending further police enquiries.
Detective Constable Craig Hurst of Wigan CID said they "desperately" need to speak to witnesses to put the offender behind bars.
He said: "Firstly, it is right we should reassure both the victim of the original sexual assault, and the wider community, that we have made an arrest and while there are clearly a number of inquiries still to be made, we are progressing very well with our investigation.
"We now desperately need to speak to these two women as they could hold crucial information that will help us put the offender of this appalling sexual attack behind bars.
"I would therefore appeal to these two women, if they are reading this appeal, to get in touch with police immediately.
"I want to emphasise that these women have done nothing whatsoever and that we simply want to speak to them about what they know.
"I would also continue to ask anyone who has information about either the original sexual assault, or the whereabouts of the silver Nissan X Trail vehicle over the last two weeks, to call us."
Anyone with information should call police on 0161 856 7259 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.
http://www.itv.com/news/granada/2012-11 ... -in-wigan/
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