A bogus minicab driver who lured women into his car and raped two of them, has been jailed for nine years.

The Old Bailey heard that Mohammed Akhtar, 28, of Watford Way, north-west London, posed as a cab driver to get women into his car from outside pubs and clubs.

He raped the first woman, a 21-year-old Norwegian, after picking her up outside a bar in Soho, central London, in June and driving her to Kensington.

The second victim, a 31-year-old, was picked up outside a central London nightclub and raped in a churchyard.

'Safer travel'

Akhtar was convicted at the Old Bailey earlier this month and remanded until Tuesday for reports.

The case comes only weeks after women in London were warned about the dangers of using illegal minicabs.

The Metropolitan Police and the Mayor of London created the Safer Travel at Night initiative earlier in October.

Posters with the slogan "Know what you're getting into?" were displayed on the London Underground network and in magazines.

Police figures show 214 women have been raped or sexually assaulted by illegal drivers in the capital over the past 12 months.