Perth man jailed for rapes after posing as taxi driver

PERTH MAN JAILED FOR RAPES AFTER POSING AS TAXI DRIVER

A MAN who had posed as a taxi driver was jailed for 10 years at Perth High Court yesterday for the rape of a 22-year-old woman and the attempted rape of an 18-year-old woman.

David Hepburn, 29, of Argyll Street, Alloa, had driven his wife's white Lada car on a Saturday night last October near pubs and discos that were closing.

Both women had been picked up at a taxi rank in the centre of Alloa.

Hepburn drove the 18-year-old woman to a lonely track, where he hit her in the face and told her to take her clothes off.

She managed to escape and hid behind a fence until he drove away.

A short while later, Hepburn picked up the second woman and drove her to a lay-by, where he butted her on the forehead and then stripped and raped her.

Hepburn denied that he had posed as a taxi driver or that he had picked up the women.

He claimed that a taped confession, recorded by the police, had been obtained under threats of violence, a claim denied by the detective in charge of the inquiry.

Forensic scientists indicated that DNA tests showed it was 'very highly probable' that blood found on the rear seat of the Lada and on Hepburn's clothing came from the 22-year-old woman.

Hepburn is married with three children, though his wife, Heather, 29, told the court she was seeking a divorce.

Lord Coulsfield described Hepburn's crimes as 'despicable and vicious' and stated it was necessary to protect women traveling alone, criticizing Hepburn for victimizing these two girls in an 'appalling way.' A charge of raping a 26-year-old woman was dropped by the Crown.