POLICE have arrested a former Minehead taxi driver after he failed to show up for a magistrates court case where he faced charges of historical rape and sexual assaults of a young girl.

An arrest warrant without bail had been issued by the court for David Wylie, aged 65, of Higher Rodhuish Road, Withycombe.

He was eventually arrested in the Minehead area and put before the court in Taunton later the same day.

No pleas were taken for the charges and the magistrates committed Wylie to stand trial in Taunton Crown Court on March 16.

Wylie is accused of one offence of rape, three of unlawful sexual intercourse, and one of committing a sex act on the girl on various dates between July 16, 1996, and January 1, 2000.