A former Keighley bus driver tried to murder a 13-year-old schoolgirl after picking her up from a stop in East Morton.

The terrified girl was allegedly indecently assaulted, threatened with a screw driver, strangled and bitten before blacking out.

She eventually she managed to escape the clutches of Alan Higgins, by leaping out of his car, a Bradford Crown Court jury heard today.

Higgins, 42, of Oakworth Road, Exley Head, Keighley, pleaded guilty to kidnapping but not guilty to attempted murder and indecent assault.

It is alleged the teenager was driven to a secluded track on moorland where Higgins subjected her to a nightmare ordeal.

The girl put up such a struggle that police eventually found clumps of her hair in Higgins car. And the jury heard that a passing motorist who may have distracted Higgins could have saved the girl's life

Prosecutor Benjamin Nolan QC said Highness had spoken to the girl on January 17 after seeing her waiting at the bus stop in Swine Lane.

Mr Nolan said Highness had been driving a single Decker bus in the opposite direction when he saw the girl, who is now 14, and said he would be back in half an hour.

But the girl caught another bus into Keighley town centre where she met Higgins again and asked him where she could catch a bus to the Great Northern pub where she was due to meet her sister.

Mr Nolan said Higgins then offered her a lift but instead of going to the pub he drove along Halifax Road and towards the moors.

After finding a secluded spot, Higgins told her she should not get into cars with "strange old men" before threatening her with a screw driver and demanded she take her clothes off.

The court heard the terrified girl refused his demands and told him: "Why don't you just kill me."

Mr Nolan added that Higgins told the girl: "I'm going to kill you now." He then put down the screw driver and tried to strangle the girl.

"The pressure was such that she blacked out and when she came too there was another car passing by," Mr Nolan said.

When Higgins saw the car he drove off pulling the girl down by the hair to keep her out of sight.

Mr Nolan said: "It is likely that the chance passing of this car distracted Higgins and saved this girl's life."

The jury heard there was then a "prolonged struggle" during which the girl displayed "the most extraordinary courage and grit."

"If she is telling the truth she clearly has put up a most tremendous fight," said Mr Nolan.

"She was struck, bitten several times with such force that she has permanent scars and had her hair pulled so clumps came out at the roots.

"Despite her disadvantage in size, she did her best to try and escape from the moving vehicle."

At one point she managed to sound the horn on the car in a bid to attract attention.

Mr Nolan said onlookers saw the car "weaving across the road, the horn blaring and the passenger door opening and shutting."

The car stopped at the Flappit Inn where the girl managed to escape. She ran into the pub and raised the alarm.

It is alleged that Higgins drove away and "calmly returned to work."

He was arrested later that night after the girl gave police a detailed description.

Mr Nolan said police found "a substantial amount of hair" in Higgins' car which DNA testing showed to be that of the girl.

The trial continues.

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