John Worboys victim hits out at police treatment: ‘Nobody wants to know’

A victim of black cab rapist John Worboys says she has been left ‘absolutely furious’ by the police’s treatment after her new attempt to report being attacked by him.

Sarah, whose real name has been changed to protect her anonymity, says Worboys never faced justice for his assault on her 22 years ago and wasn’t believed by the police.

Her story is part of the ITV true crime drama Believe Me about the survivors of Worboys and their battle to hold the police and parole board accountable for systemic failures.

Following increased pressure from several people, including Boris Johnson’s wife Carrie Johnson, to do more for victims, the Metropolitan Police set up a dedicated point of contact under the code name Operation Safford for survivors to report their claims.

But Sarah told Metro how an operator had ‘no idea what I was talking about’ after calling 101, and thought they were talking about Staffordshire police station.

She also said the whole process ‘re-triggered’ her PTSD and claimed that, after finally being put through to somebody, an officer told her: ‘I am on annual leave for a week, somebody else will look at it.’

Worboys was jailed in 2009 for 19 offences linked to attacks on 12 women between October 2006 and February 2008.

He was then sentenced to life with a minimum term of six years in 2019 after more victims came forward.

The rapist would attack women after drugging them in his taxi by offering them spiked drinks.

Aimée-Ffion Edwards portrays Sarah in the drama, which details how she was one of two women who won compensation from the Met Police in 2014 after it was found their human rights had been breached by ‘inhuman or degrading treatment’ during the investigation.

In the series, it is revealed that Worboys was never actually charged for raping Sarah as the CPS decided to proceed with a small number of cases despite receiving 105 complaints.

Last week the real-life Sarah decided to use the helpline to report her rape in the hope that it might help others come forward.

Speaking to Metro, Sarah said she was passed around to four different police stations, including her local station, and nobody ‘had any clue about Operation Safford’.

‘I have spent the last three days considering whether I can pursue a claim against Worboys,’ she said. ‘I have really struggled with this mentally but now finally after all these years of being run and passed around by the police I decided to make a report.

‘After the way the police treated me the last time, I was honestly sick with anxiety and I thought that I just can’t do this, I can’t go through with this.

‘Finally, I was put through to somebody who says, “sorry, but I’m on holiday for the next week, somebody else will look into it for you.”

‘Nothing has changed. Nobody wants to know. Nobody knows what’s happening. I am absolutely furious. I want them to explain this to the public.’

Last week, Carrie Johnson, who encountered Worboys in 2007, told Good Morning Britain there could be up to 1,000 victims of Worboys.

A Met spokesperson told Metro they have now updated their guidance to make it easier for victims or individuals to come forward.

They said: ‘The process for victims to report any offence or crime should be straightforward and supportive, and we are sorry that on this occasion this may not have been the experience for those who initially contacted us.

‘Reporting any offence, particularly one related to sexual violence, is an incredibly brave thing to do, and we apologise for the distress caused.

‘We have updated our guidance to make it easier for victims or individuals who may have information about Worboys to come forward.

‘They can contact us by calling 101, requesting to be put through to the Metropolitan Police and providing the reference 4648/23MAY. Alternatively, information can be provided by emailing CIT@met.police.uk.’

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