BOGUS CABBIE IN SEX ATTACK ON MALE PASSENGER; 20-year-old victim of Nuneaton horror: Bogus cabbie in sex attack.

Byline: Mike Malyon

a bogus cab driver sexually assaulted a 20- year- old man who was on his way home from a night out at a nuneaton bar.

the assault took place at around 2.30am on monday in a lay- by on the a444, just before the griff island. police have only just details.

offic- ers say the victim had got in to the car - a dark blue or black Rover 25 hatchback which he believed to be a minicab - outside the Barracuda in Nuneaton town centre a few minutes The carwas not displaying a minicab or taxi livery on the outside, although it did have a meter inside. The driver set off but pulled into the lay-by near the Griff shortly afterwards, claiming there was a problem with the car. Police say he then placed a reflector across the front windscreen and sexually assaulted his passenger. The offender is described as being white, aged 35 to 45 and of stocky build, with long dark hair. A police spokesman said: "People need to be warned not to get into a minicab or taxi which does not have an authorisation plate fitted on the outside, at the back of the vehicle. This is the plate which shows that the car and driver are registered to carry paying passengers." Police are now appealing for help to trace the attacker. They particularly want to hear from anyone who may have seen the car parked up in the lay-by. Contact Det Sgt Andy Reynolds on 024 7664 1111.

CAPTION(S):

CRIME SCENE...The A444 layby where the attack happened.