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Sex charge cabbie admits to lying Sex charge cabbie admits to lying
(about 2 hours later)
A black cab driver accused of drugging and sexually assaulting female passengers has admitted in court giving women champagne and lying to them. A taxi driver accused of drugging and sexually assaulting female passengers has admitted in court giving women champagne and lying to them.
John Worboys, 51, of Rotherhithe, south-east London, also admitted sexual activity with some customers but denied spiking their drinks.John Worboys, 51, of Rotherhithe, south-east London, also admitted sexual activity with some customers but denied spiking their drinks.
He told Croydon Crown Court he made up stories about winning money at casinos as "banter" to engage their interest.He told Croydon Crown Court he made up stories about winning money at casinos as "banter" to engage their interest.
Mr Worboys denies 23 charges, including rape and sexual assault, on 14 women.Mr Worboys denies 23 charges, including rape and sexual assault, on 14 women.
He told the court he was a retired stripper who craved the attention of women after the death of his mother from cancer when he was a teenager. The black cab driver told the court he was a retired stripper who craved the attention of women after the death of his mother from cancer when he was a teenager.
I used to wait until I had a good £2,000 or £3,000 with me and I used to sort of make up a story John Worboys, defendantI used to wait until I had a good £2,000 or £3,000 with me and I used to sort of make up a story John Worboys, defendant
Speaking in his defence, Mr Worboys admitted he gave a false name - often his stripping stage name Terry - and invented details about his background, such as attending university, where he lived, and winning money at casinos, to aid conversation.Speaking in his defence, Mr Worboys admitted he gave a false name - often his stripping stage name Terry - and invented details about his background, such as attending university, where he lived, and winning money at casinos, to aid conversation.
He told the court: "I used to wait until I had a good two or three thousand pounds with me and I used to sort of make up a story that I won money in the casino or lottery.He told the court: "I used to wait until I had a good two or three thousand pounds with me and I used to sort of make up a story that I won money in the casino or lottery.
"I used to show it to them and ask if they would celebrate with me and have a drink, either champagne or wine, just to celebrate my winnings.""I used to show it to them and ask if they would celebrate with me and have a drink, either champagne or wine, just to celebrate my winnings."
'Attention and cuddles'
He said he would make the offer of a drink on his last job of the night so as to stay under the drink drive limit and "99%" of women accepted.He said he would make the offer of a drink on his last job of the night so as to stay under the drink drive limit and "99%" of women accepted.
Asked if he had engaged in sexual activity with passengers in his cab he said yes, but told the court: "To my knowledge they have never been drugged.Asked if he had engaged in sexual activity with passengers in his cab he said yes, but told the court: "To my knowledge they have never been drugged.
"I just would not do that.""I just would not do that."
'Attention and cuddles'
Speaking about his "odd" behaviour, he told the jury: "I think it is due to my mum dying when I was young.Speaking about his "odd" behaviour, he told the jury: "I think it is due to my mum dying when I was young.
"I lost her when I was 13 and all my friends were getting attention and cuddles and stuff like that." To make a woman interested, it's no good just having £100 John Worboys, defendant "I lost her when I was 13 and all my friends were getting attention and cuddles and stuff like that."
The prosecution claim Mr Worboys spent 18 months preying on young women he picked up outside nightspots across central London in his black cab. Prosecutors claim Mr Worboys spent 18 months preying on young women he picked up outside nightspots across central London in his black cab.
Mr Worboys told the court he picked up some of his alleged victims because he feared they would be targeted by illegal minicab drivers. Mr Worboys told the court he picked up some women he feared would be targeted by illegal minicab drivers.
That had been the case when he picked up a woman in Chelsea's King's Road in October 2006 and took her home, even though she had no money. He described showing one such woman he picked up in Chelsea's King's Road a plastic bag full of cash he claimed to have won at a casino.
During the journey, he used his "banter" to suggest he had won money at a casino that day, he said. "To make a woman interested, it's no good just having £100 in there," he said.
"I showed her the money through the glass partition - I used to keep it in a plastic bag," he said. They drank a miniature bottle of Tesco Champagne before he drove her home, he said.
"I never used to have more than £4,000 there. To make a woman interested, it's no good just having £100 in there." However, Mr Worboys said she suddenly began swearing at him, adding that he could not understand why.
The woman agreed to share a celebratory drink and he pulled over, producing a miniature bottle of Tesco Champagne which they drank while sitting on a wall, said Mr Worboys. During another trip with another alleged victim, the 19-year-old had told him she was a "poor student".
'Poor student'
By the time he arrived at the woman's house, she had fallen asleep and he had to bang the cab door to wake her, he said.
After he walked her to the door and thanked her for her company, she suddenly began swearing at him, said Mr Worboys, adding that he could not understand why.
The defendant admitted that while driving another of his alleged victims he had brought up a conversation about a businesswoman who was offered money by her boss for sexual favours.
But he denied this was an invitation for her. The 19-year-old then told him she was a "poor student".
Mr Worboys said: "I turned round and said 'you're a pretty poor student, have you considered glamour modelling'."Mr Worboys said: "I turned round and said 'you're a pretty poor student, have you considered glamour modelling'."
He later gave her £50 to "down" a half-cup of vodka before driving her home but had then gone home with a headache, he added.
The case continues.The case continues.