'Lucky escape' of drunk teen targeted by rapist

Aug 5 2008 By Chris Robinson, The Journal

A CONVICTED rapist who cruised Newcastle city centre looking for vulnerable women was today facing a long jail sentence.

Andrew Beal posed as a taxi driver in an attempt to kidnap a drunken female student.

But the 39-year-old was thwarted by a real cab driver who spotted what was going on and alerted a nearby police officer.

After the jury at Newcastle Crown Court found Beal guilty of the two charges he faced, Judge Michael Cartlidge said his intended target – a 19-year-old woman – had a lucky escape.

The court heard Beal was on licence from prison when he targeted the teenager in February. The back of his VW Passat was covered with a white sheet and he was carrying a spanner he intended to use as a weapon.

Police studying CCTV tapes after his arrest spotted his car circling the city centre for two hours before he tried to pick up the teenager. They also identified his car in town several Saturdays running up to the incident.

Jurors took less than two hours to reach two guilty verdicts at Newcastle Crown Court yesterday.

Adjourning sentencing for four weeks for report, Judge Cartlidge said the intended victim "must have had a lucky escape".

He said that a sexual offences team would establish the extent of the danger posed by Beal, of Breamish, in Ellington, Northumberland.

Flanked by security guards Beal, wearing a blue shirt and dark suit, appeared unmoved as two guilty verdicts were read out for kidnap and committing an offence intending to commit a sexual offence.

And in a rare courtroom scene, the foreman of the jury told Judge Cartlidge that the jury of seven women and five men wanted to pass on their thanks to both the police and a taxi driver who came to the teenager’s aide.

Beal was convicted of rape and indecent assault after attacking a young woman in Princess Square, Newcastle, in November 1996.

He was given a 10-year jail sentence in 1997, but was released in 2003 after serving six and a half years.

After reaching its verdict, the jury was told that Beal had three earlier convictions, including one for assault and one for child cruelty, which dated to the 1980s.

Beal told the court the sheet covering the back seat of his car was to protect it from his girlfriend’s dog and said the spanner was needed for opening a garage door.

He also claimed he was driving around town because he could not find a parking space, but the court was told he would have had no trouble parking so late at night.

Prosecutors had said that the 39-year-old selected his intended victim, who was perched on a bollard and wearing fancy dress, because she was alone and vulnerable.

The young woman, who cannot be named for legal reasons, said she thought she had been waiting at a taxi rank when Beal’s vehicle pulled up around 12.30am on February 24 this year.

She said the window was wound down as she approached and the driver said "yes" when she asked if he was a taxi and could he take her to an address in Jesmond, Newcastle. Beal had said he was offering her a lift, but the teenager told the court: "I was not too drunk, I was still in control of myself. I was desperate to get home but in a taxi, I was not going to get in any other vehicle."

Sentencing has been adjourned for four weeks for pre-sentence reports.

Stick together is advice to girls

DETECTIVE Inspector Lee Buzzeo, who led the investigation, said the court case should serve as a reminder to young women who are vulnerable after drinking.

He said: "We’re satisfied with today’s result. This incident could have had a very different outcome. It’s a reminder for people, particularly young women, enjoying themselves in the city centre to always have regard for their personal safety and stick together with friends."

Will Richens, student president at Newcastle University’s Union Society, said: "The safety of students is clearly very important to us.

"The union offers a number of safety measures and we run a number of campaigns.

"Students should try and be fully aware of the regular taxi ranks and keep in groups with their friends. They should also try and look after each other.

"If you feel town is not a safe place to be, then there are safety devices that they can get hold of such as attack alarms.

"There’s always the worry that students and the general public are going to go out and have too much to drink, but drink awareness is important and they should know their limits."

Be careful when picking up a taxi in city centre

NEWCASTLE City Council last night warned people to be careful about picking up taxis in town.

A spokesman said people should use the marshalled taxi ranks at the Gate, the Bigg Market and Central Station as these are overseen by police officers.

Guidelines advise if you are getting a private hire taxi is to make sure it is the company you booked by checking the signage and that the driver knows your name and destination before you get in.

Always ensure the vehicle is licensed by checking the plate at the back of the vehicle and also check that the driver is also licensed. Drivers must carry their taxi driver’s licence.

Alert officer

NEWCASTLE Crown Court heard of the girl’s miraculous escape from Beal thanks to a keen-eyed taxi driver and an alert police officer.

The 19-year-old had already got into the rapist’s VW Passat when a nearby cabbie spotted what was going on.

And Chief Supt Graham Smith, who was on duty in Newcastle city centre in an unmarked car, had already noticed the girl was vulnerable.

He was on his way to check if she was OK, but had to deal with a fight behind him which broke out.

Moments later a genuine taxi driver warned him that she had got into Beal’s car, which was then stopped.

Not satisfied with Beal’s response, he called police officers to take over and the rapist was thwarted.