A “SEXUAL predator” who posed as a cab driver to trap a woman and rape her has been jailed for eight years.

Astor Murray was described as a “loner” at the Old Bailey as he was sent down for the 2003 attack on an industrial estate, after picking his victim up in central London.

Murray, 49, pestered the woman, who was 22 at the time, to get into his unlicensed taxi at around 4am after she had been out socialising with friends.

But instead of driving her home, Murray, of Chichester Road, Edmonton, went to a deserted area and took his trousers off before forcing the woman to perform oral sex, then he raped her.

Murray tried to explain away his actions to Judge Ann Goddard QC in a letter, and his barrister Philip Sutton said although he had denied the charges throughout his three-day trial, he had now come to terms with what he had done.

Mr Sutton said: “This may be a case where, because of the passage of time, maybe by the time we got to the trial or shortly before the trial, he may have convinced himself of his innocence.”

When Judge Goddard responded that it was “little late”, Mr Sutton added: “This is a man who is in fact now removing the cloud from his own eyes.”

Murray was arrested late last year for touting unlicensed taxi services and for assault, and his DNA linked him to the November 2003 attack.

The victim, who had been drinking that night, was unable to provide a complete description of Murray after escaping from the taxi as he tried to drive her home and the case remained unsolved for six years.

However, the woman, who's identity is protected, gave evidence in his trial and a jury took just 50 minutes to find him guilty on all charges.

Judge Goddard, sentencing, said: “This was a very serious offence – on that early morning in November 2003, you were in my view a predator.

“Clearly this has had a lasting effect on [the victim] and I only hope, with these proceedings now behind her, that fact will be of some help to her.”

The court heard Murray had a drinking problem, his relationship had broken down, and Mr Sutton described him as a “loner” who tried to deal with his problems without reaching out for help.

The former security guard was jailed for eight years, and is likely to spend four in jail and the rest on licence. He will be on the sex offenders register for life.