Taxi Driver Online

Rapist Who Posed As Taxi Driver Is Jailed Indefinitely

11 September 2008

A convicted rapist who posed as a taxi driver so he could lure a teenage girl into his car has been jailed indefinitely.

Andrew Beal, 39, spent hours driving the streets of Newcastle in the early hours of February 24, looking for a lone victim to target.

When he found a 19-year-old student in fancy dress in Mosley Street, he pulled up next to her in his VW Passat, claiming he was a taxi driver.

But before Beal could drive away with his victim trapped in the back he
was arrested by nearby police officers.

Beal, of Breamish, Ellington, denied charges of kidnap and committing kidnap with intent to commit a sexual offence. However, he was found guilt of both charges at the trial at Newcastle Crown Court in July.

Jailing him indefinitely, Judge Michael Cartlidge said Beal was a "sinister sexual predator" who poses a serious risk to members of the public. He must serve a minimum of five-and-a-half years in jail before being considered for parole.

He said: "For about two hours on February 24, this defendant was cruising the streets of Newcastle.

"This girl was just a target he had been waiting for.

"The jury had no doubt that had the defendant got away from the scene with her in the back she would have been the victim of a serious sexual offence."

Christopher Knox, prosecuting, said Beale was jailed for ten years in 1996 for brutally raping a woman in Newcastle City Centre. He was released on license in 2003 after serving just six-and-a-half years.

Beal also has two previous indecent assault convictions on his record from the 1980s when he was a teenager.

In July jurors were told the 19-year-old student had been drinking in the city with friends before leaving to get a taxi home.

She said the window was wound down in Beals VW Passat as she approached and he replied "yes" when she asked if he was a taxi and could he take her home. She then got in the back seat, but before Beal could drive away a genuine taxi driver who had been watching alerted police.

Beal was arrested but denied any wrong doing. After the jury had returned its guilty verdict Judge Cartlidge said: "It seems this girl had a luck escape."


Source; New Post Leader

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Well done to the cabby, and well done to the judge for, hopefully, putting him away for good.

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