Police investigating the rape of an 18-year-old woman have issued an evofit of a suspect.

The attack happened between 4.30am and 6.30am on Friday 1 January 2016 after the woman got into a black cab in Stalybridge to return home after celebrating New Year’s Eve.

The driver then drove the woman in the direction away from her address coming to a stop on wasteland on Castle Street near to the Texaco petrol station in Stalybridge where he raped her.

The victim has been working with police to produce an evofit of her attacker, which officers have now released to the public to help identify the man responsible.

Detective Inspector Richard Ennis from GMP’s Tameside Division said: “The vehicle that the victim got into has been described as a black or dark blue minibus-style taxi, possibly with a rear sliding passenger door. We are making significant enquiries alongside Tameside Council to try and identify this vehicle, but we cannot be definite that this was a genuine taxi, or whether it was someone posing as a taxi.

“This is a despicable act which has left a young woman completely distraught. We are doing everything we can to find the person responsible but we need the public’s help.

“If you recognise the man in the evofit, or if you have any information about what happened that morning, please come forward and tell us what you know. You may think your information is trivial, but it could be vital to our investigation.”

The attacker is described as Asian, around 27-years-old, around 5ft 8in, slim/medium build with short dark hair that is longer on top and stubble.

The man was wearing jeans and spoke with an Asian accent.

Anyone with information should phone police on 0161 856 9262 or the independent charity Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.