A man who posed as a taxi driver then sexually assaulted a woman who got into his car after a Christmas night out has been jailed.

Police said the victim, who is in her 20s, was subjected to a 'terrifying ordeal' and described the circumstances of the attack as 'the stuff of nightmares'.

Distressed and frightened, she managed to jump out of Nadeem Sultan's car and run into woodland, where she raised the alarm.

Sultan, 46, of Stamford Road, Old Trafford, has now been jailed for two years.

He was found guilty of sexual assault by touching following a three-day trial at Chester Crown Court. Sultan pleaded guilty to touting a private hire vehicle and driving without insurance.

Inspector Emma Parry said: "Sultan subjected his victim to a terrifying ordeal.

"She was alone, trapped in a vehicle with a man she had never met before who had targeted her to fulfil his own sexual gratification.

"The victim placed her trust in Sultan, believing that he was a genuine taxi driver. He totally abused this trust.

(Image: M.E.N.)

"Being inappropriately touched and sexually assaulted by a stranger is the stuff of nightmares and I cannot praise the victim enough for her bravery in reporting her ordeal to the police and giving evidence against Sultan in court."

The victim had been on a night out with friends in Chester on December 22 last year.

The attack happened in the early hours of December 23.

Police said she became separated from her friends at around 3.30am and stopped to help a man who was at the side of a road claiming to be ill.

A Cheshire Police spokesman said she decided to take the man home then flagged down what she thought was a taxi.

The spokesman said: "Unbeknown to her, the vehicle she had stopped was actually a private car being driven by Sultan, who did not have a licence to operate as a taxi driver and was not insured to drive the car."

It then emerged the man the victim was trying to help wasn't actually ill, but using her to get a free lift home.

As a result, Sultan ordered him out of the car, a silver Renault Espace.

Police said that once alone with the victim, who was sat in the front seat, he 'plied her with a constant flow of compliments'.

Follow reporter Paul Britton on social media To follow Paul on Twitter, click here. Or to like his Facebook page and keep up to date with the latest breaking news, click here. Here's the link to the M.E.N's main Facebook page where we share our latest stories.

Sultan told her he 'could never find a woman like her', then sexually assaulted her, the force said.

The spokesman said: "A short time later, when the car was stationary, the victim managed to get out of the vehicle.

"She fled into a wooded area, from where she called for support."

Insp Parry said: "We treat all reports of sexual offences extremely seriously and any such allegations will be thoroughly investigated, with the wishes and needs of the victim as our main priority.

"Victims should never feel ashamed to talk about what has happened to them.

"They will receive the help and support they need from our specialist officers, as well as from other support agencies we work alongside."

Sultan was made the subject of a 10-year sexual harm prevention order.