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| Cab driver jailed for sex attacks | Cab driver jailed for sex attacks |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| A London taxi driver has been jailed indefinitely for drugging and sexually assaulting female passengers in the back of his cab. | A London taxi driver has been jailed indefinitely for drugging and sexually assaulting female passengers in the back of his cab. |
| John Worboys, 51, from Rotherhithe, London, gave them drinks laced with sedatives, Croydon Crown Court heard. | John Worboys, 51, from Rotherhithe, London, gave them drinks laced with sedatives, Croydon Crown Court heard. |
| He was convicted of one rape, five sexual assaults, one attempted assault and 12 drugging charges committed from July 2007 to February 2008. | He was convicted of one rape, five sexual assaults, one attempted assault and 12 drugging charges committed from July 2007 to February 2008. |
| The former stripper will not be considered for parole for eight years. | The former stripper will not be considered for parole for eight years. |
| 'Exploiting trust' | 'Exploiting trust' |
| Sentencing Mr Justice Penry-Davey told him: "Drivers of licensed black cabs have a worldwide reputation for their trustworthiness - you saw the opportunity of exploiting that trust and sexually abusing young women." | Sentencing Mr Justice Penry-Davey told him: "Drivers of licensed black cabs have a worldwide reputation for their trustworthiness - you saw the opportunity of exploiting that trust and sexually abusing young women." |
| Worboys picked his lone victims up in London's West End and gave them champagne, claiming he had won large amounts of money on the lottery or at casinos. | Worboys picked his lone victims up in London's West End and gave them champagne, claiming he had won large amounts of money on the lottery or at casinos. |
| 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. |
| 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. | |
| Police discovered what they described as a "rape kit" - including gloves, alcohol, glasses, drugs, condoms and a sex toy - concealed in a plastic bag in another vehicle at his home. | |
| Worboys had denied all the offences and was cleared of a further two drugging charges. | |
| The judge told him: "As somebody with an enduring and powerful interest in sexual matters you saw an opportunity through cab driving." | |
| He added: "You developed and perfected a web of deceit that was sufficient to ensnare young, intelligent and sensible women who had enjoyed a night out and whose only mistake, as it turned out, was to get into your cab late at night." | |
| Police seized a "rape kit", which included gloves, condoms and alcohol | |
| Worboys will not be released until a parole board decides he is no longer a threat to women, the judge added. | |
| It was ordered that proceeds from the sale of Worboys' £5,000 cab, plus £3,680 found in a carrier bag when he was arrested, be shared among his 12 victims. | |
| Following his conviction last month, police said Worboys could be linked to 85 attacks in the London and Dorset areas dating back to 2002. | Following his conviction last month, police said Worboys could be linked to 85 attacks in the London and Dorset areas dating back to 2002. |
| A further 11 potential victims have contacted them. | |
| On Tuesday police said they would interview Worboys in prison in an attempt to clear up dozens of unsolved sex crimes. | |
| During his trial it emerged that police in Plumstead, south east London, arrested Worboys in July 2007 over an attack on a 19-year-old student. | |
| But he was released on bail and went on to commit the 14 offences for which he was convicted. | |
| The Independent Police Complaints Commission is investigating why he was released. | |
| Worboys was arrested for a second time last February. |