Female taxi driver strangled and robbed during hire

A TAXI driver was strangled unconscious and robbed of her jewellery after being held up at knifepoint during a hire.

The 60-year-old victim was driving her blue Peugeot Horizon private hire car in Lanark when she was attacked by two passengers on Saturday.

She picked up a man on Hyndford Road at around 10pm before collecting his friend in Hope Street, opposite Lanark Fire Station. As they drove towards West Calder, the first man threatened her with a knife and told her to pull over.

She stopped on the A704 at the junction for Pateshill water treatment works and was dragged from the car and throttled until she lost consciousness.

When she awoke, the men were gone and her jewellery was missing. Both attackers are described as being slim, around 6ft tall and as having Eastern European accents.

The first man was wearing a black hooded top, dark trousers and dark gloves.

The second man wore an army-style khaki hoodie and had the hood up.

Police said they were treating the attack as attempted murder.

Detective Inspector Stevie Bertram of Livingston CID said: ‘This has been an extremely traumatic ordeal for the victim and we’re currently treating the attack on her as an attempted murder.

‘As part of our investigation, we’re urging anyone with information about this incident or the identities of the men to get in touch.

‘Likewise, if you may have seen the men in the Lanark or West Calder areas please call us as soon as possible.’