A YOUNG woman was assaulted by a stranger who got into her cab in Bournemouth this morning, during the early hours.

The 20-year-old got into the front passenger seat of a taxi in Holdenhurst Road and a man - not known to her but described as a dark skinned, dark haired man in his late 20s - got into the rear of the vehicle.

When the cab arrived in Moordown she was followed by the man to the front garden of a property in Brassey Road, where at around 3.20am she was inappropriately touched.

The offender ran off when her call for help alerted the occupants.

Detective Constable Ian Allen, of Bournemouth CID, said: “This was a very distressing incident for the victim and it is fortunate that she was not injured.

“I am appealing for witnesses to come forward. In particular I would like to speak with two people with an umbrella who were seen in the area of Brassey Road when the taxi stopped.”

Contact police with information in confidence on 101 quoting incident number 25:32, or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.