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Man charged with kidnap and rape after woman entered car she thought was taxi in Wigan

Merseyside Police have charged James Paterson, 30, of Longridge, with two counts of rape, sexual assault, kidnap and assault after a woman was allegedly attacked in a car in St Helens. He is remanded in custody, and police are appealing for information.

2 outlets · 1L · 0C · 1R First reported Account updated
Image: Daily Express
Image: Daily Mirror

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The story, neutrally told

Merseyside Police have charged a man with kidnap and sex offences after a woman was reported to have been raped inside a car in St Helens. Police said they received a report at around 1am on Sunday 27 September that the woman got into a vehicle she believed was a taxi, with a group of her friends, in Wigan. The car travelled from Wigan to St Helens town centre, where the offence is reported to have taken place.

James Paterson, 30, of Inglewhite Road, Longridge, was charged on Wednesday 30 September with two counts of rape, sexual assault, kidnap and assault. He has been remanded in custody until his next court hearing at Liverpool Crown Court on Wednesday 28 October. Detective Inspector Jamie Heston said the investigation is ongoing and appealed for anyone with information about that night, or about similar incidents, to come forward.

Police asked people to contact them via X or Facebook (@MerPolCC), on 101 quoting incident reference 26000793391, or anonymously through Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on.

Left1 outlet

Framing
The Daily Mirror leads with the woman's account and the naming of the suspect, reproducing the full police statement and contact details.
Emphasis
The 'taxi' detail in the headline, the suspect's name, and how to contact police.
Leaves out or plays down
Gives only 'Longridge' in its own text rather than the full address, though the police statement it quotes includes it.
For example
“Woman 'kidnapped and raped in car she thought was taxi' as suspect named” — Daily Mirror

Centre0 outlets

No centre outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.

Right1 outlet

Framing
The Daily Express runs a short, breaking-style report on the charge, centred on the police appeal for information.
Emphasis
The charge, remand and the detective's appeal for further information.
Leaves out or plays down
Omits the police incident reference and Crimestoppers contact details given by the Mirror.
For example
“THIS IS A BREAKING STORY. MORE TO FOLLOW...” — Daily Express