STRONG safety warnings are being issued after a woman claims to have been the victim of an alleged rape in the backseat of an unlicensed mini-cab.

The 21-year-old woman had been out drinking in town and after leaving a bar at 2.30am a member of staff tried to help her find a taxi home.

They had no luck and eventually she gave up and walked off through the town.

Having been alerted, the CCTV operator followed her through Exchange Street to Bond Street.

She was at the rear of the Tesco store when a man pulled up next to her in a car.

She believed it to be a mini-cab and got in but during the journey home she claims the driver twice got into the back of the car with her, the second time he allegedly tried to rape her.

A concerned member of the public called police after seeing the woman, who is in a distressed state, running along the A130 Essex Regiment Way.

Rami Kayyali, 26, a sales assistant, of Chelmer Road, Chelmsford, appeared at Chelmsford Magistrates Court on Saturday charged with attempted rape. No application was made for bail and he was remanded in custody until August 26 when he will appear at Chelmsford Crown Court.

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