TWO men who posed as taxi drivers to rape a 28-year-old woman have been jailed at Croydon Crown Court.

Richard Agacy, a singer from Croydon, and his accomplice Bhattin Elagoz, of Congo Drive, London, were both found guilty of raping a woman on December 5 2002 in Hawksbrook Lane, Beckenham.

Elagoz was also found guilty of indecently assaulting the woman. He was sentenced to seven years for rape and five years for indecent assault to run concurrently. Agacy was jailed for eight years.

The 23-year-old men were arrested after DNA evidence linked Agacy to the crime. He was arrested at his home on January 26 2005, Elagoz was detained the following day.

Following sentencing police reiterated their warnings to Londoners about un-licensed taxis.

Detective Sergeant Peter Rance from Bromley CID, said: ""I would like to take this opportunity to urge people not to get into unlicensed mini-cabs.

"Please take a few minutes while you are planning your evening to consider how you are getting home. Arrange to travel in groups and pre-book your taxi from a reliable firm before you leave your home."