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Sex charge cabbie lied to police Sex charge driver had drug in cab
(about 2 hours later)
A taxi driver accused of sexually assaulting 14 female passengers and raping one of them has admitted lying to police on his arrest. A taxi driver accused of sexually assaulting 14 female passengers and raping one of them has admitted to having sleeping tablets in his cab.
John Worboys, 51, from Rotherhithe, south-east London, initially told police he had not touched any passengers in a sexual way in his cab. John Worboys, 51, from Rotherhithe, south-east London, told Croyden Crown Court he mixed the pills with a drink on his way home to help him sleep.
That was a lie, he told Croydon Crown Court. "I thought it was irrelevant because it was consensual," he said. He also said he lied to police when he denied having sexual encounters with passengers in his black taxi.
Mr Worboys denies 23 charges including rape and sexual assault.Mr Worboys denies 23 charges including rape and sexual assault.
He is accused of giving drinks spiked with drugs to women he picked up outside night spots in his black cab before sexually assaulting them. 'Spiked drinks'
Earlier Mr Warboys admitted in court that he engaged in sexual activity with some customers but he denied spiking their drinks. He is accused of giving drinks spiked with drugs to women he picked up outside night spots in his cab before sexually assaulting them.
'Tailored account' He admitted he engaged in sexual activity with some customers but denied spiking their drinks.
Prosecuting, Johannah Cutts QC read a statement Mr Warboys made after his arrest in February last year, in which he denied touching any of his passengers in a sexual way in his cab.Prosecuting, Johannah Cutts QC read a statement Mr Warboys made after his arrest in February last year, in which he denied touching any of his passengers in a sexual way in his cab.
Miss Cutts said: "That's a lie, isn't it?"Miss Cutts said: "That's a lie, isn't it?"
Mr Worboys replied: "Yes, but I had my reasons for putting that statement, because I thought it was irrelevant because it was consensual."Mr Worboys replied: "Yes, but I had my reasons for putting that statement, because I thought it was irrelevant because it was consensual."
Miss Cutts said: "You've waited to see what the police might find, what evidence was forthcoming, and tailored your account." 'To help sleep'
But Mr Worboys disagreed. "It was consent, I did not rape her at all," he said. The court also heard Mr Worboys had the sleeping pill temazepam in his cab and that the same drug was found in the urine of one of his alleged victims.
Mr Worboys accepted that the Public Carriage Office would take a "dim view" of him having alcohol in the cab, and agreed that his job would have been at risk over the issue. He said the drug was to help him sleep.
Ms Cutts said he was trying to explain away an awkward piece of evidence.
Mr Worboys said: "If I was out to drug these women, I would admit it now, and I did not drug these women."
The trial continues.The trial continues.