Worboys spiked drinks of four women in his taxi, court hears

Worboys did not offer a plea to any of the four charges
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Former London black cabbie John Worboys appeared in court today accused of drugging four female passengers so that they could be sexually abused.

The 62-year-old, now known as John Radford, allegedly targeted them between 2000 and 2008 when he was driving a cab, offering them a drink “laced” with drugs to knock them out.

It is said he told the four women he had won money, and offered them champagne to help celebrate, Westminster magistrates’ court heard.

Worboys appeared via video link this morning for a preliminary hearing, when he did not offer a plea to any of the four charges.

Prosecutor Jonathan Polnay told the court that Worboys is accused of “administering a substance with intent to rape and indecently assault”.

He said the case against Worboys is similar for all four alleged victims; that he “picked them up in a taxi, said he had won money, and provided women with alcohol laced with a sedative”.

He added that one alleged victim says she was picked up by a black cab after leaving a bar and offered a drink by the driver, saying: “He told her he had won on the horses and was celebrating. He also claimed he had been a stripper with the Chippendales. He offered her champagne and invited her to celebrate with him, she agreed, and he pulled over into a side road off the A40.”

The prosecutor added that she claims the driver “offered her a drink in a plastic cup, she drank it, and it was the last memory she has of the evening.”

District Judge Michael Snow adjourned the case until a hearing at the Old Bailey on June 20.

Worboys spoke only to confirm his identity and say “thank you” to the judge at the end. He is accused of two counts of administering a stupefying or overpowering drug with intent to commit rape or indecent assault, and two charges of administering a substance with intent to commit a sexual offence.

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