Rapist on the loose as cops hunt fake taxi driver who attacked woman in four-hour ordeal then skipped court | The Sun

A WANTED rapist is on the loose – as cops hunt a fake taxi driver who attacked a woman in a four-hour ordeal then skipped court.

Watir Ali, 46, from Bristol, was sentenced to eight years in prison after being convicted of rape.

Cops have launched an urgent manhunt for the rapist after he failed to appear at Bristol Crown Court yesterday.

Ali is described as a south Asian man, 5ft 6ins (170cm) tall and slim, with short dark hair and brown eyes.

His victim entered Ali's car after leaving a night club in the mistaken belief that he was a taxi driver.

He then subjected her to a four-hour ordeal, taking her to his flat before raping her.

Avon and Somerset Police said: "If you know where he is now, please call 999 and give the reference 5223133652.

"If you have any other information which could help officers to locate him, please call 101 and give the same reference."

After Ali failed to appear, judge Peter Blair KC issued a warrant not backed for bail for his arrest.

Two hours later, the judge passed sentence in Ali's absence.

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Judge Blair told the court: "It is my view that Mr Ali did target the complainant because he perceived she was vulnerable through intoxication.

"It is clear that her memory of events was hugely, badly affected by the excessive consumption of alcohol.

"It is aggravated because it was night-time, she was on her own and the defendant was sober."

A victim statement read: "My smile has been stolen from me. I have been living in a very dark place.

"I don't think I'll ever get over it. I will never forget it. Five years on I'm still recovering from it."

Mark Worsley, defending, said Ali moved to Bristol from Bradford 20 years ago and lived a "rather sad existence".

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