Predator, 27, pretended to be taxi driver to kidnap woman and rape her

A sexual predator who posed as a taxi driver to 'pick up' a lone victim before kidnapping and raping her has been jailed.

Yuseab Woldeab, 27, lured the woman into his vehicle by pulling over at 4am and offering to drop her home after a night out in Plymouth, Devon.

But instead, after the 'heavily intoxicated' woman passed out in his vehicle, Woldeab took her back to his own house and raped her.

The video of the 'pick-up' was released by Devon and Cornwall Police on Thursday after Woldeab was jailed, having been convicted of two counts of rape and one of kidnap.

Plymouth Crown Court heard how the victim, a woman in her 20s, had been out with friends on the evening of Sunday 24 April last year.

After several hours drinking in bars and then at a friend’s house, she headed home alone in the early hours of the following morning.

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CCTV obtained by detectives shows the victim stumbling along the pavement before a three-door Ford Fiesta, registered to Woldeab, passes her as she walks on Union Street in Plymouth.

Further footage shows the same vehicle pulling into Octagon Street and parking up while he watches the victim walk along the street.

Unaware of the van, the victim continues to walk towards Devonport. After a short wait, the vehicle performs a U-turn and proceeds down Union Street in the same direction as the victim.

At around 4am, the driver is seen pulling up next to the victim. This is when Woldeab identified himself as a taxi driver and offered to take her home.

The victim is seen getting into the front passenger seat as the vehicle begins to drive off before she has had a chance to close the door.

The court heard that during this journey, the victim was blacking out due to intoxication.

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Woldeab then drove the victim to his home address in Wilton Street, Plymouth and put her on his bed, where he raped her before leaving the room.

The victim, seeing this as a chance to escape, fled the house.

Once the woman got back to her address, she messaged a friend for help where she disclosed what had happened to her.

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.

Police enquiries then saw Woldeab arrested the next day, charged and remanded.

Describing Woldeab's 'horrendous and disturbing' crime after sentencing, DS Chris Kinski of Devon and Cornwall Police's Sexual Offences Investigation Team said: “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 wholeheartedly 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.”

Rebecca Sutherland, from the CPS South West, said prosecutors are working more closely with police partners to drive up the number of successful rape prosecutions and 'deliver justice for victims'.