Man who posed as taxi driver in Plymouth jailed for kidnap and rape
Yuseab Woldeab has been sentenced to eighteen years in jail
A man who pretended to be a taxi driver and kidnapped and raped a woman in Plymouth has been jailed for 18 years.
27 year old Yuseab Woldeab, from Wilton Street in Plymouth has been found guilty of two counts of rape and one of kidnap.
He was sentenced at Plymouth Crown Court today (26th January)
The court heard how the victim, a woman in her 20s, had been out with friends on the evening of Sunday 24 April.
After several hours drinking in bars and then at a friend’s house, she headed home alone in the early hours of Monday 25 April.
CCTV showed the woman stumbling along the pavement before a three-door Ford Fiesta registered to Woldeab passed her on Union Street.
The car then followed her, and at around 4am Woldeab identified himself as a taxi driver and offered to take her home.
Weldeab drover the victim to his home and raped her before leaving the room - she saw this as a chance to escape.
Once the woman got home, she messaged a friend for help - the victim contacted the police the same day stating that she had no idea who the man was or remember the address he took her.
Woldeab was arrested within 30 hours of the police receiving the initial report.
DS Chris Kinski of the Sexual Offences Investigation Team said: “This was a truly horrendous and disturbing crime.
“Woldeab could see that the victim was vulnerable as she was intoxicated. He used this entirely to his advantage when approaching her that night.
"We believe he had been prowling the streets looking for a victim prior to spotting her.
“I wish to thank the victim for her incredible bravery in coming forward and reporting this to us.
"We know that this was no easy task and that she was fearful of not being believed, however, we take all reports of this nature extremely seriously and are whole heartedly committed to supporting survivors of sexual abuse.
“I have no doubt that what happened that night will stay with the victim forever. I hope this sentencing can provide her with some sense of closure so that she can move on with the same courage and determination that she has shown throughout this process.
“We would urge anyone suffering in silence to come forward. As this case shows, you will be believed and supported and together we will hold offenders to account for their crimes.”