A taxi driver was kidnapped by four men who hijacked his cab, robbed him of cash and indecently assaulted him before abandoning him in Crystal Palace.

Police have just released details of his two and a half hour ordeal which began at 1am on Sunday, July 26, when the four men climbed into the back of the black cab at Victoria Station.

A sawn-off shotgun was pointed at him and he was ordered to drive to two unknown addresses in south London acting as a courier for the gang.

At the first stop two of the men left the cab carrying holdalls but they returned with the bags which were then taken to another house and left there.

During all this time the driver remained in his cab until he was ordered to drive to Crystal Palace when he was forced out and again threatened - this time with a hand gun.

The gang robbed him and then indecently assaulted him before leaving him stranded at 3.30am.

The first suspect is described as black, 25 to 30 years old, of average height with a London accent, "sandpaper skin" and two missing teeth. He had a gold ring on his left hand and was wearing a blue puffer jacket, white T-shirt and trainers and wielding a shotgun.

The second suspect, also black and 25 to 30 years old, is described as tall wearing a three-quarter length leather coat and blue jeans, with a London accent and carrying a hand gun. The third suspect is black, about 35, wearing a suit and white shirt and a chain or medallion around his neck and has a "twangy voice".

The fourth suspect is black, aged about 35, with dreadlocks, dark glasses a goatee beard wearing a dark jacket and also has a "twangy voice."

Call 0171 32 6744 with information or Crime-stoppers on 0800 555 111.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000.Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.