A GLASGOW man has been charged over the kidnap and double rape of a woman in Burnley more than 20 years ago.

The historic ‘silent rapist’ case was reopened by Lancashire Constabulary’s Cold Case Investigation Team earlier this year.

Yesterday, police announced that Leslie Marshall, 50, of Stonefield Road, Blantyre, had been charged with the kidnap and rape of a 22-year-old woman on January 18, 1989, in Robin House Lane, Briercliffe.

He has been bailed to appear at Burnley Magistrates’ Court on December 30.

Police said the victim had been approached by a man in Briercliffe Road, near to Boundary Street, in the centre of the town in the early hours as she walked home from a friend’s house.

She was bundled into a car, being driven by a second man, and was then driven to a secluded location where she was subjected to a sustained sexual assault by both men, officers added.

Neither of the men spoke before driving off towards Harle Syke.

Detectives from the Cold Case Team are still appealing for witnesses who may have seen the men in the hours before the attack to come forward.

Detective Sergeant John Entwisle said: “I appreciate that this was a very long time ago, but I would like to ask people who would have lived in the area at the time or frequented it to cast their minds back to Tuesday, January 17, 1989.

“We are particularly interested in hearing from anyone who was on Burnley Bus Station late on the Tuesday evening.”

Contact police on 01772 413960 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.