Police are appealing for witnesses after a woman was sexually assaulted in Banbury.

The woman, in her twenties, was walking along the High Street in Banbury at about 2.40am on Saturday, October 24, when a car pulled-up alongside her and the driver claimed to be a taxi driver and asked her if she needed a lift.

The woman accepted and got into the front passenger seat of the car and told the driver where she wanted to go.

During the journey, the driver started making inappropriate conversation with the woman and then touched her leg. The woman immediately demanded the driver stop the car, which he did, at which point she jumped out the car, ran to a place of safety and called the police.

The car was described as a dark grey or silver coloured Audi estate car, with roof bars. The driver was a white Eastern European man, with short blonde hair.

PC Gary Hoy said: “I would be keen to speak to anyone who may have seen this car in the Banbury area on the night the incident took place, or anyone who may been approached by a man matching this description offering them a lift.

“It appears that this was an unlicensed taxi and once again highlights the importance of using legitimate firms and taking taxis from established taxi ranks.

“All taxi drivers operating in Banbury have to undergo rigorous checks and procedures before they get behind the wheel, something that those who drive unlicensed taxis do not have to do.”

Anyone with information should contact PC Hoy via the Thames Valley Police Enquiry Centre on 0845 8 505 505, or alternatively contact the Crimestoppers charity anonymously on 0800 555 111.