Taxi Driver Online

Bristol Evening Post

May 15, 2007 Tuesday

Woman claims man raped her

Geoff Bennett

A Mother of two who got into what she thought was a taxi after a night out was raped by the driver, a court heard.

Bristol Crown Court was told the woman had gone out with a friend of her brother and had drunk heavily before getting into a white Vauxhall Vectra in Hotwell Road.

It is claimed Andrew Benain, who was not a taxi driver, drove her to two secluded spots and raped her.

Benain, 31, of no fixed address, denies three rapes in November last year. Martin Steen, prosecuting, told the jury the woman had gone on a night out in Clifton with her brother's friend, visiting pubs and clubs.

He said: "By 2am she had taken on board a lot of alcohol. They went to a Hotwell Road fish and chip shop before going home and they were both heavy in drink." Mr Steen said the woman, who cannot be named, was able to recall that she got into what she thought was a taxi.

He said: "It was Benain's vehicle, which was white. She recalls telling Benain that she didn't have the fare but if he would drive her to her mother's home, she would get money and pay the fare. "She recalls Benain expecting some other form of payment. She was very frightened and scared and thought she may be killed."

Mr Steen said the woman thought that she was driven to Avonmouth.

It was there, said Mr Steen, that Benain made her remove her clothing and indecently assaulted her. The court heard Benain attempted sex and then made the woman commit a sex act on him.

It was after that, the court heard, that they drove to a side street in Hotwells and he made her have intercourse. Mr Steen added that, after that, Benain drove the woman to her mother's home and asked the alleged victim if he could have her telephone number.

When the matter was reported to police, Benain made a prepared statement saying he had not raped the woman and she had consented to sex in Hotwells.

The statement also said that at no time did he pretend to be a taxi driver and there was nothing inside the vehicle giving the impression that it was a taxi.

The case continues.
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