A bogus taxi driver who picked up women before driving them to secluded spots to rape them is facing a significant jail sentence.

Detectives say Nazim Asmal, 34, lured his victims into his vehicle while they were on their way home from nights out.

While they believed he was a taxi driver, he instead drove them to remote locations to carry out serious sexual assaults.

Asmal, now of no fixed address but formerly of Balaclava Street, Blackburn, admitted to four counts of rape at Preston Crown Court.

He has been remanded in custody to be sentenced on February 13, 2024.

Police say the first incident happened on October 3, 2021, when a victim got into Asmal’s car in Preston city centre.

He drove for around 10 minutes, before raping his victim in the car and then dropping her off back in the city centre, where she flagged a member of the public down for help.

On March 4 this year a second victim had been on a night out in Darwen when she ended up in Asmal’s car.

He drove her to a secluded area on the town's outskirts, where he then raped her.

Asmal got the victim's phone number and later called her, asking her if she "wanted to do something" before she hung up.

Police said Asmal raped his third victim on the same night he made that call.

The victim got into Asmal’s car in Darwen town centre, and while driving her towards Bolton, in the opposite direction of her home, Asmal said: “You don’t want to pay for this taxi, do you?”

He stopped in a secluded area and raped her. He then dropped her off at her home.

Investigators identified Asmal after his black Toyota Yaris was picked up on CCTV cameras.

Detective Inspector Darren Irving, from Lancashire Constabulary's East RASSO Team, said: “Asmal deliberately targeted his victims because of their vulnerable state and subjected them to serious sexual assaults.

"My thoughts are very much with the victims who continue to be supported by specially trained officers.

“If you or somebody you know has been the victim of a sexual offence I would encourage you to contact the police knowing you will be listened to, believed and that we will do everything we can to put the perpetrator before the courts.”

Victims can report it online via https://doitonline.lancashire.police.uk/ or call 101.