Two victims of black cab rapist John Worboys (pictured in an undated police mugshot) spoke of the trauma they continue to go through following the attacks and their anger that he will be released
Two victims of black cab rapist John Worboys, whose cases were not taken up by the police, have revealed their terror at his upcoming release – which campaigners will challenge in court today.
The women, who both spoke anonymously, described the trauma they continue to go through following the attacks and their anger that Worboys was not stopped.
One of them, who gave her name as Stacey, described how Worboys came into her house after the alleged rape, where he was met by her daughter.
She told Good Morning Britain: ‘I was on a night out with my work colleagues. The next morning I woke up at 8, I had no recollection of anything that happened, no idea whatsoever. No one else knew either.
‘My daughter saw [Worboys] in my house. She thought she had thwarted the attack but unfortunately she hadn’t, it happened on my way there.’
Stacey phoned the police after Worboys’ name was publicised in the media but ‘heard nothing back’.
It was months later that she received a call saying her DNA had been found in the back of the predator’s cab.
‘When the case came out in the media my daughter had recognised him, so I contacted the police and then left it at that,’ she said.
One of them, who gave her name as Stacey, told Good Morning Britain how Worboys came into her house after the assault, where he was met by her daughter. Pictured is a silhouette of ‘Stacey’ on the show
‘Then months later I got a call and they said they had found my DNA in the back of his cab.
‘What was disturbing was that I reported it then heard nothing – I thought you would be helped. I thought they were following up my original call but they weren’t.
‘[Worboys] only admitted he had assaulted me after I had gone through counselling.’
The woman told of her terror that Worboys could strike again if he is released, adding: ‘I am very scared and worried that he might still have my details and he might come back.
‘And I’m also scared about the other women who this has happened to and, like myself, have not recollection about it at all.
‘I think it is pretty obvious that he should stay in prison. There was enough evidence there to convict him for more offences, but that did not happen. He was not convicted for my attack.’
Another woman, who called herself Fiona, also reported her assault to police but claimed she was told “a black cab driver wouldn’t do that”.
Fiona described how Worboys started chatting to her on a journey before handing her a drink. He then said he was stopping for a cigarette and joined her in the back of the taxi.
Metropolitan Police handout of Worboys’ ‘rape kit’, which he kept in his cab
‘Next I remember waking up in the hospital the next day,’ she said. ‘I knew I had been raped. I jumped out of the bed and went to the toilet, pulling a tube out of my arm.
‘I went to the police station two days later. They said ‘a black cab driver wouldn’t do that’.
‘In the car on the way there I was told not to be emotional as this could play badly with the jury so in the interview I was completely unemotional.
‘But during the interview the police officer walked out before coming back and saying I was not a credible witness because I wasn’t crying.
‘I tried to tell him that I was told not to be emotional but that was it.’
It comes as two of Worboys’ victims are to ask leading judges for the go-ahead to challenge the decision to release him from prison.
At the same hearing at the High Court, London Mayor Sadiq Khan will also urge Sir Brian Leveson and Mr Justice Garnham to allow him to bring judicial review action against the Parole Board.
Another senior judge has already temporarily blocked the 60-year-old serial sex attacker’s release pending the hearing in London on Wednesday, which is due to last half a day.
On January 26, Mr Justice Supperstone made his decision after considering an urgent application by two of Worboys’ victims.
The women, supported by Mr Khan, applied for a ‘stay’ on Worboys’ release ‘pending determination of the claim for judicial review or further order’.
Sir Brian and Mr Justice Garnham will consider applications by the women and the mayor, and if permission is granted a full hearing will take place at a date to be fixed.
Worboys was jailed indefinitely in 2009, with a minimum term of eight years, for drugging and sexually assaulting women passengers. Pictured: His black cab
If the cases are allowed to proceed, it is likely that the judges will also be asked to decide on whether the current bar on release should be extended.
In making his order in January, High Court judge Mr Justice Supperstone, who considered the application on documents lodged by the parties, concluded: ‘I consider that this claim raises serious questions to be determined and the balance of convenience plainly favours a short stay pending the hearing.’
He said the judicial review claims brought by the two women, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, and Mr Khan ‘shall be linked’.
The judge stated that the release of Worboys ‘pursuant to the decision of the Parole Board for England and Wales directing his release shall be stayed pending the hearing on permission for judicial review and directions… or further order’.
Worboys was jailed indefinitely in 2009, with a minimum term of eight years, for drugging and sexually assaulting women passengers.
He became known as the black cab rapist after attacking victims in his hackney carriage.