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| Man arrested over black cab rapes | Man arrested over black cab rapes |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| A man has been arrested by police investigating a taxi driver who pretends he has won lots of money before drugging and raping female passengers. | |
| Police think the driver struck at least five times, picking up his victims in a black cab in the Oxford Street, Kings Road and London Bridge areas of London. | Police think the driver struck at least five times, picking up his victims in a black cab in the Oxford Street, Kings Road and London Bridge areas of London. |
| He offered his victims a spiked glass of champagne to celebrate his lottery win before assaulting them. | He offered his victims a spiked glass of champagne to celebrate his lottery win before assaulting them. |
| Officers believe there may be more victims dating back to 2005. | Officers believe there may be more victims dating back to 2005. |
| The suspect, aged in his early 40s, was arrested at an address in south-east London. | The suspect, aged in his early 40s, was arrested at an address in south-east London. |
| FIVE LINKED ATTACKS 5 February: A 33-year-old woman flagged down a cab in Tooley Street nearLondon Bridge railway station and was subjected to a serious sexual assault as she was driven to her home in south-west London 3 January: A 29-year-old woman who flagged down a cab between Tower Hill and Aldgate was attacked as she was driven home to east London21 December 2006: Two women got into a cab in Oxford Street, central London.After one got out, a short distance away the second woman, aged 25, was attacked en route to her home in south London14 October 2006: A 28-year-old woman who got into a cab on Kings Road, Chelsea, was attacked as she was taken to an address nearby16 June 2005: Police are investigating the circumstances of a fifth similar attack in London on this date | FIVE LINKED ATTACKS 5 February: A 33-year-old woman flagged down a cab in Tooley Street nearLondon Bridge railway station and was subjected to a serious sexual assault as she was driven to her home in south-west London 3 January: A 29-year-old woman who flagged down a cab between Tower Hill and Aldgate was attacked as she was driven home to east London21 December 2006: Two women got into a cab in Oxford Street, central London.After one got out, a short distance away the second woman, aged 25, was attacked en route to her home in south London14 October 2006: A 28-year-old woman who got into a cab on Kings Road, Chelsea, was attacked as she was taken to an address nearby16 June 2005: Police are investigating the circumstances of a fifth similar attack in London on this date |
| Detectives have begun trawling through their records of sex crimes since 2005 after an incident earlier this month led them to believe a serial attacker was behind the crimes. | Detectives have begun trawling through their records of sex crimes since 2005 after an incident earlier this month led them to believe a serial attacker was behind the crimes. |
| Police said the most recent attack took place on 5 February after a 33-year-old woman was picked up near London Bridge Station. | Police said the most recent attack took place on 5 February after a 33-year-old woman was picked up near London Bridge Station. |
| The victims were aged between 17 and 33 and had all been out drinking with friends before the attack. | The victims were aged between 17 and 33 and had all been out drinking with friends before the attack. |
| Det Ch Insp Tim Grattan-Kane said toxicology tests were under way to identify what kind of drug was used. | Det Ch Insp Tim Grattan-Kane said toxicology tests were under way to identify what kind of drug was used. |
| He said the victims have been told by the driver that he had won up to ?50,000 and shown money to them before offering them a drink to celebrate | He said the victims have been told by the driver that he had won up to ?50,000 and shown money to them before offering them a drink to celebrate |
| Mr Grattan-Kane said: "He has then continued to drive the victim to their original location and on the way has stopped. | Mr Grattan-Kane said: "He has then continued to drive the victim to their original location and on the way has stopped. |
| "He has got into the back of the cab and the women have been subjected to a sexual assault." | "He has got into the back of the cab and the women have been subjected to a sexual assault." |
| They were then driven to their original location and the victims complained of feeling powerless and suffering memory loss. | They were then driven to their original location and the victims complained of feeling powerless and suffering memory loss. |
| The officer said some of the attacks may have lasted up to three hours. | The officer said some of the attacks may have lasted up to three hours. |
| He appealed for any other women who over the last few years have had a similar experience to contact police | He appealed for any other women who over the last few years have had a similar experience to contact police |
| The officer added: "I think there are at least five attacks and there may be even more. There could be an awful lot that are unreported out there." | The officer added: "I think there are at least five attacks and there may be even more. There could be an awful lot that are unreported out there." |
| A helpline has been set up for anyone who suspects they may have been a victim. The number is 020 7321 7359. | A helpline has been set up for anyone who suspects they may have been a victim. The number is 020 7321 7359. |