Rapist denies cab kidnap bid
Jul 30 2008 by Hilary Clixby, The Journal
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But he was foiled by police alerted by a genuine taxi driver who was so concerned by what he had seen that he drove in front of the car to block him in, Newcastle Crown Court was told.
Security cameras showed Beal had been around the city about two hours before the incident in Mosley Street in the city centre around 12.30am on February 24 this year, said Christopher Knox, prosecuting yesterday.
He alleged the 39-year-old had selected the teenager, who was perched on a bollard and wearing fancy dress after an evening with friends, because she was alone and vulnerable.
Mr Knox told jurors: “It is quite clear that the defendant confirmed to her that he was a taxi driver and you will appreciate all that implies – a person to be trusted, a car that would take her home in return for pay and that she would be safe. It was clearly his intention to take her away and sexually assault her.”
Beal, who has a conviction for raping and indecently assaulting a young woman in Newcastle city centre in 1996, denies kidnap and committing an offence intending to commit a sexual offence.
He claimed at the scene he had stopped to pick up the teenager: “Because I know how difficult it is to try and walk home when you are drunk,” the court was told. In police interviews, he denied he told the student he was a taxi driver and denied any sexual intention.
Mr Knox said: “He declined to tell police where he had been prior to picking her up.” He said Beal could not tell police who he was due to meet or what arrangements had been made despite saying he was planning to see work colleagues in town.
Mr Knox said Beal, of Breamish, in Ellington, Northumberland, also claimed he had been unable to find anywhere to park in the city, although there was in fact “ample” parking space available at that time.
He said a bedsheet was found covering the back of his car and also recovered from the vehicle was a spanner which the prosecution say was a weapon.
Giving evidence, the alleged victim, said she had been waiting at what she thought was a taxi rank when the Passat pulled up.
She said the window was wound down as she approached and the driver replied “yes” when she asked if he was a taxi and could he take her to an address in Jesmond, Newcastle. She denied under cross-examination the driver had simply asked her if she wanted a lift and she had said yes.
The trial continues today.
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