‘Help, he’s trying to rape me’: Taxi driver saves woman being dragged into Hull cemetery
A TAXI driver has told of the terrifying moment he stopped a man dragging a woman into a cemetery in west Hull.
Black cab driver Peter Nilsson heard the woman shouting "Help, he's trying to rape me" as he rushed to her rescue in the early hours of Saturday, close to a cemetery in Sculcoates Lane.
Mr Nilsson said: "I saw the man dragging her into the graveyard.
"I dialled 999 immediately and put my foot down to get closer to them.
"As I got nearer, I could hear her screaming 'Help! He's trying to rape me! He's trying to rape me!'.
"The police told me to stay in the car, but I couldn't do that. I had to help her."
Mr Nilsson got out of his car and ran to where he could hear the woman screaming.
"I shouted out and asked the man what the hell he was doing," said Mr Nilsson.
"He turned and ran. He had the lady's bag. I tried to chase him but I couldn't catch him. I'm 44 and 14st after all, and he was really quick.
"I'd say he was in his late twenties to early thirties and wasn't English."
Mr Nilsson stayed with the woman until the police arrived at the scene.
"The police arrived really quickly and were really good," he said. "The woman seemed really shook up and kept saying 'thank you' to me, but I was just in the right place at the right time.
"I dread to think what could have happened if I was not there.
"I got a bit emotional thinking about it afterwards."
Mr Nilsson was working a night shift and had dropped off a couple in Sculcoates Lane when he noticed the man and woman at about 1.30am.
He said: "I don't want to take any credit for what I have done. I am just glad I was there at the right time.
"I know the guy only stole her handbag, but it could have been so much worse.
"A woman was raped in this area not long ago."
Alec Lowther, 21, admitted raping, assaulting and robbing a woman after pushing her over a wall into the St Mary's Churchyard, which runs between Air Street and Bank Street, near Sculcoates Lane, on September 20 last year.
Lowther beat the woman so severely she lost consciousness and was left partially sighted in one eye.
When she came round, he had fled, after also stealing her mobile phone and £163.15 in cash.
Lowther, of no fixed address, admitted three counts of rape, inflicting grievous bodily harm, and robbery when he appeared at Hull Crown Court last month.
He is due to be sentenced next month.
Humberside Police confirmed they were called to the Sculcoates Lane area on Saturday morning, but said they had not received a formal complaint from the woman.
A force spokesman said: "Police were called by a taxi driver at 1.48am on February 27 reporting concerns for a woman being taken into a cemetery by a man in Sculcoates Lane, Hull.
"By 1.52am officers were in attendance and spoke to the woman, who alleged that the man had stolen her bank card.
"The man was no longer in the area and, despite numerous searches, he was not located.
"The woman was not hurt and no formal complaint has been received."
Anyone with information should call Humberside Police on 101.
Read more: http://www.hulldailymail.co.uk/8216-Hel ... z41g6NOsjs
Follow us: @hulldailymail on Twitter | HullDailyMail on Facebook
|
