Black cab rapist loses his appeal

Black cab rapist John Worboys claims the two life sentences he received for drugging and attacking passengers are ‘wrong in principle’, the Court of Appeal heard.

The 63-year-old pervert plied customers with champagne laced with sedatives so he could sexually assault them.

The former stripper carried out a string of depraved assaults on dozens of passengers between 2000 and 2008 while working as a taxi driver in London.

Using a secret mixture of powerful drugs and alcohol, Worboys drugged young women in the back of his cab leaving him free to do as he pleased with them.

In 2009 he was jailed indefinitely for public protection (IPP) for rape, sexual assault, and 12 offences of administering a noxious substance.

Worboys was handed two life sentences, with a minimum sentence of six years, a decade later at the Old Bailey after four more victims came forward.

The predator had lured them into his cab at the dead of night offering them champagne and bragging about winning on the horses and lottery.

The white-haired rapist, who now goes by the name John Derek Radford, appeared at the Court of Appeal, via video-link from HMP Wakefield.

Barrister Joanne Cecil, representing Worboys, said his latest legal challenge was against the latest life terms he received in December 2019.

Ms Cecil said: ‘There is plainly a lengthy history to these proceedings.

‘It is obviously a case which has great import to Mr Radford, the victims, and the wider public and it is one which has gained considerable attention.

‘The sentence of life imprisonment was wrong in principle because it was incompatible with the relevant sentencing regime.’

Ms Cecil added the minimum term of six years on two of the charges effectively amounted to 12 years and was ‘manifestly excessive’.

She said: ‘It is plainly an aggravating factor in relation to counts one and two, that the applicant in this case went to commit sexual offences.

‘What we say is that the equivalent sentence that is now in place is one that Parliament has limited to ten years.

‘One has the IPP in place from 2009. It was simply unnecessary in our submission to impose life. We do not submit it was unlawful, but we do submit it was wrong in principle.’

Jonathan Polnay, for the prosecution, told the court: ‘This is an exceptional case, in every way and in every sense of the word.

‘The facts of the offending which the offender fell to be sentenced for are exceptional. There is none that bears comparison.

‘It is a case without precedent and the respondent contends that the learned judge’s conclusions were not only open to her to apply but wholly correct.

‘The fact that the applicant is already subject to an IPP is neither here nor there, given the view of the Supreme Court.

‘The maximum sentence of ten years under the Sexual Offences Act is one for a single offence.

‘A sentence of 12 years was entirely justified for what was very serious offending, highly premeditated, in breach of trust.

‘This was a seven year campaign, 16 victims, four provably sexually assaulted, one provably raped, and one provabley assaulted by penetration.

‘The respondent would go further. Were the offender to be tried today for all of that behaviour it would be a sentence considerably longer than that.’

Worboys was given an indeterminate sentence in 2009 with a minimum for eight years for sex assaults on 12 women but police feared he may have targeted more than 100 women in the back of his cab.

For years he had performed as a stripper called ‘Terry the Minder’ peeling off his clothes to the television show theme tune in front of cheering women at hen nights and parties.

Worboys launched his campaign of sex attacks after giving up stripping.

He admitted during his trial he started carrying alcohol in his cab at this time, but claimed it was only a way of striking up conversation with punters.

The internet history on Worboys’ home computer showed he had made Google searches for ‘really drunk girls’, ‘rape,’ ‘champagne,’ ‘crazy sextaxi,’ and a series of different drugs.

Worboys perfected his routine and carried a ‘tool-kit’with him in his taxi, including champagne and glasses, a selection of spirits, condoms, his drugs, sex toys and a bundle of up to £4,000 in bank notes.

He also faked his taxi number, registered with the Public Carriage Office, so that if customers did take his plate number it would lead them to a dead-end.

In 2019 he admitted two counts of administering stupefying drugs with intent to rape or indecently assault and two counts of administering a substance with intent to commit a sexual offence, between 2000 and 2008.

Sentencing him then Ms Justice McGowan branded Worboys a ‘continuing risk’ and a ‘continuing danger.

‘I do not know when if ever you will cease to be a risk. There are two aspects that remain a great concern your ability to manipulate others and your failure to admit the risk you posed.

‘I must set a minimum term. The minimum term I set is one of six years. After six years you may apply to the parole board for release.’

But she added: ‘You many never be released.’

The appeal is being heard by the Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales, Baron Burnett of Maldon, Mr Justice William Davis and Sir Alan Wilkie.

The hearing continues.
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Worboys later saw his appeal against sentence thrown out.

The black cab rapist listened intently to the decision from his prison video-link and showed no emotion.

Lord Chief Justice, Baron Burnett of Maldon, said: ‘This applicant is now known as John Radford but was formerly known as John Worboys and as such became notorious as the black cab rapist.

‘For reasons I will go into, this application for permission to appeal against sentence is refused.’
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