The fake taxi rapist:

• Predator targeted woman late at night after driving around central Bristol
• He said he was a taxi driver but attempted to rape the woman en route
• Police caught him after woman convinced him to give her his number
• He has now been jailed for more than five years as victim warns others

CCTV images show the moment a man posing as a taxi driver prowled the streets looking for a victim.

Mohammed Afzal drove around Bristol city centre pretending to be a cab driver to give a woman a lift home.

But the 23-year-old predator drove his victim to another location and attempted to rape her after giving her drugs.

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This is the car of sex offender Mohammed Afzal as he prowls the streets of Bristol looking for a victim

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Afzal is shown getting out of a car before he approached his victim and offered her a taxi ride home

After Afzal was jailed yesterday, police released the CCTV images showing him driving around the streets on the night of the attack.

Bristol Crown Court heard Afzal, of no fixed abode, picked up the 22-year-old woman in the early hours of April 14 before attempting to rape her.

The woman managed to get her attacker's phone number, which she gave to police after managing to escape him.

Officers pretended to be the woman to arrange a meeting with Afzal, before arresting him and charging him with attempted rape.

Afzal has now admitted the charge and was jailed for five years and four months, with an additional three-year extended licence, this week.

Following the hearing, the victim said: 'People like him exist. You don't think it's going to happen to you.

'You're strong and you're fine, but it does happen and you can have your strength taken away from you.'

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Afzal has now been jailed for five years

Speaking after the sentencing, Acting Detective Sergeant Laura Miller said: 'Afzal posed as a taxi driver and can be seen on CCTV footage driving around Bristol city centre looking for someone to target.

'He drove past the victim before turning his car around. He then parks nearby and runs towards the victim, leading her towards his vehicle.

'He drives her to an unknown location and attempts to rape her, plying her with illegal drugs including opiates and amphetamine during this horrific ordeal.

'The victim was dropped off at her home several hours later but crucially asked for his phone number, which he gave her.

'She reported the incident to police later the same day and we took the decision to message Afzal, posing as the victim and arranging to meet up.

'He attended this meeting and was arrested and later charged.'

Afzal was also ordered to sign the Sex Offenders' Register for life.