Posed as a taxi driver in order to kidnap a lone woman and sexually assault her.

A man posing as a taxi driver lured a lone woman into his car in the early hours of the morning and sexually assaulted her.

Andras Jancso, 45, was convicted by a jury at Swansea Crown Court of kidnap, sexual assault, and committing an offence with intent to commit a sexual offence.

The court heard that in the early hours of July 2, 2022, Jancso was "cruising" the streets of Swansea city centre in his black car looking for women to have sex with.

He identified a lone and intoxicated female who was making her way home following a night out with friends and after following her for some time persuaded her to get into his vehicle.

Jancso then drove her to the car park of Swansea Tennis Centre near the Morfa retail park - a location which at 4am was deserted - and demanded sex.

The defendant then touched the woman's thighs over and under her clothes. The court heard the young woman managed to contact a friend on her phone and when Jancso realised what she had done he stopped the assault and drove the woman home.

In a statement from the victim that was read to the court, she said she had always prided herself on being streetwise and thought she would be safe using what she thought was a licensed cab.

She said she would never forget the feeling of "sheer panic" she experienced when she looked up to see the driver was pulling into an isolated car park with nobody around and no prospect of rescue.

The victim, who has automatic lifelong legal anonymity, said: "I thought: 'This is how I am going to die. He is going to rape me and then he is going to kill me'."

The woman also said she used to be a positive and outgoing person but now just feels "numb" and she said she wishes she could have the life she used to have.

Judge Paul Thomas KC said on the night in question Jancso had been "cruising Swansea city centre" posing as a taxi driver and looking for women for sex in what was a "planned course of conduct".

He noted that police subsequently found photographs and videos of women's behinds that the defendant had taken while driving around.

The judge said CCTV footage showed the defendant had followed his target in his black car for some time until she was alone and had then encouraged her to get into the vehicle by "effectively telling her you were a taxi driver" before driving her to the tennis centre car park and assaulting her.

The judge said he had no doubt the defendant would have gone on to carry out a more serious sexual assault had his passenger not had sufficient wits about her to make contact with a friend via her mobile.

Jancso was sentenced to six years in prison comprising four years for kidnap, two years for sexual assault, and six years for committing an offence with intent to commit a sexual offence all to run concurrently.

He will serve up to half that period in custody before being released on licence. The defendant will be a registered sex offender for life and was made the subject of an indefinite sexual harm prevention order.