A taxi driver has told of the moment he stopped a man dragging a woman into a cemetery – as she desperately cried out, “Help, he’s trying to rape me”.
Peter Nilsson rushed to rescue of the victim in the early hours of the morning when he realised she was being dragged into a graveyard.
Despite being told by police to stay in his cab after he called them, the brave 44-year-old ran to where he could hear the woman screaming.
Speaking about the incident, black cab driver Mr Nilsson said: “I saw the man dragging her into the graveyard and I immediately dialled 999 and put my foot down to get closer to them.
“I could hear her screaming, ‘Help, he’s trying to rape me. He’s trying to rape me.
“The police told me to stay in the car but I couldn’t do that. I had to help her.”
Mr Nilsson was working a night shift in Hull, East Yorks., and had just dropped off a couple when he noticed the man and woman at about 1:30am.
After getting out of his car, Mr Nilsson ran to where the woman was screaming.
He said: “I shouted out and asked the man what the hell he was doing. He turned and ran and he had the lady’s handbag.
“I tried to chase him but I couldn’t catch him – I’m 44 and 14 stone after all and he was really quick.
“I’d say he was in his late 20s to early 30s.”
Mr Nilsson stayed with the victim until the police arrived and praised them when they came to the scene.
He said: “The police arrived really quickly and were really good.
“The woman seemed really shook up and kept saying ‘thank you’ to me, but I was just in the right place at the right time – I dread to think what could have happened if I wasn’t there.
“I got a bit emotional thinking about it afterwards.”
He added: “I don’t want to take any credit for what I have done. I’m just glad I was there at the right time.
“I know the guy only stole her handbag, but it could have been so much worse – a woman was raped in this area not long ago.”
Humberside Police confirmed they were called on Saturday morning but said they had not received a formal complaint from the woman.
A force spokesman said: “Police were called by a taxi driver at 1.48am on February 27 reporting concerns for a woman being taken into a cemetery by a man in Sculcoates Lane, Hull.
“By 1.52am officers were in attendance and spoke to the woman, who alleged that the man had stolen her bank card.
“The man was no longer in the area and, despite numerous searches, he was not located.
“The woman was not hurt and no formal complaint has been received.”
Anyone with information should call Humberside Police on 101.
