A “DANGEROUS” cabbie who raped a 14-year-old Bournemouth girl after forcing her to get into his taxi is facing a lengthy prison sentence.

Bournemouth Crown Court heard how “sexual predator” Terence Collins had molested the terrified teenager two years before raping a trusting 20-year-old woman who got into his cab following a night-out with a friend in March last year.

Both victims, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, were forced to relive their shocking ordeals in court. Collins denied two offences of rape and one sexual assault, involving the woman.

But he was found guilty on the jury’s second day of deliberations.

Collins, 59, of no fixed abode, worked for Boscombe-based Star Radio Cars and held a private hire licence from 2002 until March 12 last year.

Prosecutor Carolyn Branford-Wood told the court how Collins had grabbed his teenage victim who had been aware a car was following her as she walked home from Bournemouth town centre. He forced her into his taxi before raping her.

Speaking after the case Julia Woodward, the Crown Prosecution Service’s Senior Crown Prosecutor, described Collins as “every woman’s worst nightmare,” adding: “He used his job as a taxi driver to attack women when they were at their most vulnerable.

Ms Woodward praised the bravery of Collins’ victims for reporting the offences, giving evidence and ensuring Collins was finally brought to justice.

She added: “Thanks to them a dangerous sexual predator will now be jailed. We hope that this conviction will bring some kind of comfort and that they will now be able to move on with their lives. Our thoughts are with them.”

  • Collins’ licence was suspended after Bournemouth council was alerted by Dorset police and revoked on May 3 last year. Council licensing officer Keith Evans said: “When applying for a licence a full criminal records check is carried out. We take safety of the travelling public very seriously and, as such, will suspend a licence immediately following an alert from police that an investigation has begun. Where necessary the board will take the decision to revoke a licence.”

John Tye, chairman of Bournemouth Taxi Trades Associations, said: "The Bournemouth Taxi Trade are sickened and appalled by the 'bestial' and 'abhorrent' actions of a lone private hire driver and as far as we are concerned no sentence handed out by the Judge can be too severe.

"We would like to express every sympathy to the two victims and their families involved in this tragedy.

"Furthermore we would also express our total admiration for the two young ladies 'courage' and 'fortitude' in pursuing the prosecutions and having the strength of character to effectively relive their shocking experiences."

Ashley Miller, chairman of Bournemouth Station Taxi Association, warned the public to be wary of what vehicle they use following a night-out.

He stressed: “Terry Collins has never been a licensed hackney carriage driver in Bournemouth. He held a private hire licence which is totally different to a taxi licence. They are issued work via the radio company they are licensed with.”

Mr Miller advised taxi travellers to take a mental note of the hackney carriage plate number, ensuring in Bournemouth that the taxi is yellow and in Christchurch black.

With safety in mind, many taxis and private hire vehicles have been fitted with CCTV or cameras which provide images which can only be downloaded by the police and council. Star Radio Cars declined to comment.