“We are particularly keen to trace the movements of a silver Ford Mondeo."

West Cumbrian taxi driver walks free after rape bid case dropped




A taxi driver who was accused of attempting to rape a teenager has walked free from a court after the case against him was dropped.

Ian George Burge, 36, from Newlands Gardens, Workington, had been accused of the attempted rape, sexual assault, false imprisonment, and assault causing actual bodily harm. The alleged victim was 18.

Throughout the history of the case, he has denied all of the allegations.

At Carlisle Crown Court, prosecutor Timothy Brennand said the Crown Prosecution Service had carried out a comprehensive review of the case – and concluded there was no realistic prospect of conviction.

He told Judge Paul Batty QC: “It was always likely to boil down to a conflict between one person’s word and another.”

He said the defence could have argued that the scientific evidence in the case was more supportive of the defendant’s case than the prosecution

After reviewing other material and background information in the case, said the barrister, prosecutors also had concerns about the “reliability and the credibility” of the woman who made the accusation against Mr Burge.

Mr Brennand added: “As a result of conversations at the very highest level, and meeting with the complainant, and a review with the police and senior prosecutors, the Crown are of the view that there is no longer a realistic prospect of conviction and we therefore offer no evidence.”

Noting the prosecutor’s comments, Judge Batty entered a formal not guilty verdict and released Mr Burge from the dock.

Earlier in the history of the case, Mr Burge spent time in prison on remand. The allegations were originally said to have happened in September last year.

After they became public, police issued an appeal for information, and asked to hear from people who may have seen a specific taxi seen working on Jane Street, Workington, on the night of September 12 and in specific rural areas outside the town.

After leaving the court, Mr Burge - who appeared visibly shaken by his courtroom experience - declined to comment.

The identity of the woman who made the complaint against Mr Burge remains protected by law.

http://www.newsandstar.co.uk/news/1.1192075

Good old ENS - just when a headline like "Taxi Driver Not Guilty" or "Charges withdrawn due to lack of evidence", or "taxi driver was falsely accused" are needed - they come up with this gem

Maybe the post title should be changed to "Teenager not raped by Workington taxi driver."

Or;
'Lying teenager gets off scot free after ruining taxi drivers life and livelihood'

What's the betting he'll still have a marker on his DBS though ?