Carrie Johnson has raised concerns about the potential scale of the offenses committed by former black-cab driver John Worboys, suggesting that he could have had “up to 1,000, if not more” victims of his abhorrent sexual crimes.
Johnson, the spouse of ex-Prime Minister Boris Johnson, disclosed her own unsettling encounter with Worboys in 2007 when she unknowingly entered his taxi late at night. She recounted how Worboys had apparently offered her drinks laced with drugs under the pretense of celebrating a supposed windfall.
Recounting her ordeal with the criminal cabbie during her student days, Johnson highlighted that numerous women have since contacted her, claiming to have been victims of Worboys. She criticized the authorities for their handling of the case.
Worboys had been imprisoned in 2009 for 19 sexual offenses related to assaults on 12 victims in London between October 2006 and February 2008, receiving an indefinite sentence for public protection with a minimum term of eight years. Johnson, speaking on Good Morning Britain, suggested that the actual number of victims might be significantly higher.
According to Johnson, the span of Worboys’ criminal activities extends back to 2000 until his conviction in 2009, during which he operated as a cab driver, potentially exposing him to numerous individuals every night. She emphasized the possibility of there being up to 1,000, if not more, victims.
Following the release of the miniseries “Believe Me” depicting Worboys’ victims, Johnson stated that more women have come forward, reaching out to her via Instagram with concerns about having been in Worboys’ cab.
Reflecting on her own harrowing encounter with Worboys, Johnson described narrowly avoiding a potential assault when he drugged her as a 19-year-old university student. She shared how she managed to evade further harm by exiting the taxi before losing consciousness.
Expressing dissatisfaction with the Metropolitan Police’s response to the case, Johnson called for dedicated support within the force for Worboys’ victims, highlighting what she perceived as inadequate treatment of the affected women by law enforcement.
Johnson also pointed out the disparity in how rape cases are handled compared to other crimes, stressing the need for improved police response and support for victims. She criticized the skepticism and lack of action she believes are often directed towards individuals reporting such crimes.
Allegations against Worboys surfaced years later, prompting further victims to come forward, leading to additional charges against him for offenses spanning from 2000 to 2008, to which he confessed. In 2019, he received two life sentences with a minimum term of six years.
Despite being denied parole for a second time recently due to continued perceived risk to women, Worboys may be reconsidered for parole in approximately two years.
