Rape detectives appeal to find taxi driver

Police investigating the rape of a woman in Leeds are appealing to trace a taxi driver as a potential witness.

The victim was attacked at the Ascot Grange Hotel, in Otley Road, Headingley, overnight between Friday, January 29, and Saturday, January 30.

A 23-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of rape and is currently on police bail pending further enquiries.

Police are trying to trace the driver of a taxi that picked the victim and suspect up in the Lower Briggate area of Leeds city centre.

The vehicle is believed to be a Skoda Octavia or similar sized saloon car with a black bonnet.

It arrived outside the hotel at 11.13pm. The man entered the hotel and left a short time later. He ran across the road to the BP garage opposite before returning to pay the driver and go into the hotel with the woman.

The taxi, which was filmed on CCTV, leaves the hotel car park at 11.32pm, having waited there for 19 minutes.

Acting Detective Inspector Mark Atkinson, of Leeds District CID, said: “We are currently working with the council’s taxi licensing department to identify the vehicle and trace the driver but we also want to appeal directly for them to come forward if they recognise from the circumstances that they were the driver involved.

“We would ask them to contact us urgently as we believe they may have important information that could assist the investigation.”

The driver is asked to contact Detective Constable 5795 Daniel Tingle at Elland Road on 0113 385 9410 or via 101 quoting log number 641 of January 30.