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| Cab driver guilty of sex attacks | Cab driver guilty of sex attacks |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| A London taxi driver has been found guilty of 19 charges of drugging and sexually assaulting 12 female passengers in the back of his cab. | A London taxi driver has been found guilty of 19 charges of drugging and sexually assaulting 12 female passengers in the back of his cab. |
| John Worboys, of Rotherhithe, south-east London, gave them alcohol laced with sedatives after claiming he had won large amounts of money at casinos. | John Worboys, of Rotherhithe, south-east London, gave them alcohol laced with sedatives after claiming he had won large amounts of money at casinos. |
| He had denied 23 charges, committed between July 2007 and February 2008. | He had denied 23 charges, committed between July 2007 and February 2008. |
| The 51-year-old spent 18 months preying on women he picked up at night in the West End, Croydon Crown Court heard. | The 51-year-old spent 18 months preying on women he picked up at night in the West End, Croydon Crown Court heard. |
| You must be under no illusion that this case requires and will get a very substantial term of imprisonment Mr Justice Penry-Davey class="" href="/1/hi/england/london/7908003.stm">Cabbie preyed on young women | |
| He was cleared on two counts of drugging women and wept as he was convicted of one count of rape. | |
| Mr Justice Penry-Davey addressed the defendant, saying: "You have heard already that I do not intend to sentence you today. | Mr Justice Penry-Davey addressed the defendant, saying: "You have heard already that I do not intend to sentence you today. |
| "I am putting the case back for a pre-sentencing report and also a psychiatric report. | "I am putting the case back for a pre-sentencing report and also a psychiatric report. |
| "You must be under no illusion that this case requires and will get a very substantial term of imprisonment." | "You must be under no illusion that this case requires and will get a very substantial term of imprisonment." |
| Worboys will be sentenced on 21 April. | |
| 'Rape kit' | |
| Prosecutors said the experienced licensed hackney cab driver targeted 14 women in total over 18 months until his arrest in February last year. | |
| The defendant drove around looking for women who had already been drinking to offer heavily discounted or free lifts home, the jury was told. | |
| He often claimed he lived in the same area as his victims and was concerned they would be approached by illegal minicab drivers. | He often claimed he lived in the same area as his victims and was concerned they would be approached by illegal minicab drivers. |
| He would explain how he had won money on the lottery or at a casino. | |
| Police seized bottles of spiked alcohol following the arrest of Worboys | |
| Then he would show them a carrier bag full of cash before offering them a drink to celebrate. | |
| But these drinks were mixed with sedatives and his victims were unable to prevent him assaulting them, the court heard. | But these drinks were mixed with sedatives and his victims were unable to prevent him assaulting them, the court heard. |
| The court was told many women were left with little memory of their ordeals and could only recall falling asleep in the back of the vehicle before waking up at home. | |
| Some were left with flashbacks and vague memories of Worboys sitting beside them and adjusting their clothing. | |
| One woman remembered being raped, a second woke up to find him with his hand up her skirt and a third said he exposed himself. | |
| Worboys admitted lying to the women and offering them drinks but claimed he did it because he craved female attention in the wake of a series of failed relationships. | |
| But police discovered a "rape kit", including gloves, alcohol, glasses, drugs, condoms and a sex toy concealed in a plastic bag in another vehicle at his home. | |
| Outside the court, Det Insp Dave Reid, of the Metropolitan Police, praised the courage of "every single one of the women who came forward to give evidence in this inquiry". | |
| Inquiry ordered | |
| He said of the 14 women who had testified during the trial: "Their bravery and integrity is beyond any doubt." | |
| He also urged any other women who felt they may have been a victim of Worboys to contact a special telephone hotline - 0800 121 4441 - which has been set up. | |
| Meanwhile an independent investigation has been ordered by the Metropolitan Police after it emerged Worboys was arrested on suspicion of sexual assault in July 2007 but no further action was taken against him. | Meanwhile an independent investigation has been ordered by the Metropolitan Police after it emerged Worboys was arrested on suspicion of sexual assault in July 2007 but no further action was taken against him. |
| He was held at the police station in Plumstead, south-east London, but released on bail. | He was held at the police station in Plumstead, south-east London, but released on bail. |
| In February 2008 he was arrested for a second time, which led to the charges on which he was convicted. | In February 2008 he was arrested for a second time, which led to the charges on which he was convicted. |
| The Independent Police Complaints Commission will examine the way the case was handled. |