Man charged after woman abducted outside gas station

A man charged with kidnapping a woman outside aSt. John's gas station this week is in police custody.

Darren Joseph Fagan, 36, appeared in provincial court in St. John's Friday on four charges, including one charge of kidnapping with intent to confine a woman against her will.

Fagan — a resident of Riverhead, St. Mary's Bay — has also been charged with unlawful possession of a weapon, and two counts of sexual assault with a weapon.

RCMP officers said the woman was parkedoutside a gas station in the Kilbride area of St. John's on Wednesday evening when a man got in her vehicle and, with a weapon,toldher to drive. Police will not identifythe weapon.

Police said the womanwas sexually assaulted twice and was taken toa location in St. Mary's Bay, where she was held in the car overnight.

The next morning, police said, she escaped from the car and was able to obtain help from a nearby house.

The woman was treated at hospital and has been released. Her identity is protected by a court order.

Police said the woman did not know her assailant.

Fagan will appear in court again on Monday morning.