ITV Unveils Disturbing Drama on Notorious 'Black Cab Rapist' John Worboys
ITV has released a first look at actor Daniel Mays portraying the infamous 'Black Cab Rapist' John Worboys, ahead of the premiere of their new drama series Believe Me. The series delves into the harrowing story of how the victims of this prolific sex attacker were systematically failed by the authorities. Worboys, a licensed taxi driver, preyed on women by offering them drug-laced champagne under the guise of celebrating a casino or lottery win, rendering them unconscious.
Convictions and Systemic Failures
John Worboys was convicted in 2009 for a series of crimes, including sexual assault and drugging with intent, against twelve women in incidents spanning from 2006 to 2008. The drama focuses on two victims, Sarah and Laila, played by Aimée-Ffion Edwards and Aasiya Shah, who reported assaults by Worboys. It highlights how the Metropolitan Police failed to investigate these allegations thoroughly, allowing Worboys to continue his attacks.
A first-look image shows Daniel Mays in the cab, pulling a sinister expression as Worboys, who was later linked to allegations from over a hundred women. The cast also includes Phillippa Dunne as solicitor Harriet Wistrich and Rachael Stirling as Phillippa Kaufmann QC, who sued the Met Police under the Human Rights Act for their investigative failures.
Carrie Johnson's Ordeal Featured
The drama will also depict the experience of Carrie Johnson, wife of former Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who was spiked in Worboys' taxi in 2007 when she was 19 years old. Miriam Petche portrays Carrie Johnson in the series. Speaking about Believe Me, Mrs Johnson expressed hope that it serves as a wake-up call to the police, the Crown Prosecution Service, and the parole board.
"Far too often, women and girls are failed by the very institutions meant to protect them," she said. "The treatment of the victims in this case was truly shameful. Reform matters, but what we urgently need above all is a profound shift in culture." She emphasised the courage required for women to come forward and the need for them to be treated seriously and with respect.
Victims' Perspectives and Courage
Carrie Johnson, believed to be Worboys' youngest target, was picked up after a night out on the King's Road and plied with spiked vodka. Her ordeal will be dramatised in the show. Written by Jeff Pope and expected to air later this spring, the series also features Aimee-Ffion Edwards as Sarah, another victim whose name has been changed to protect her identity.
Sarah commented on the drama, stating, "Believe Me is about the courage of every woman who came forward to help put John Worboys behind bars. What happened to me changed my life, but in many ways, the hardest part was not being believed for so many years." She added that seeking justice should not entail more trauma and that survivors should not feel like they are on trial.
Details of the Attacks and Aftermath
At the time of the incident, Carrie Johnson was in her first year at Warwick University. Waiting at a bus stop in west London, Worboys offered her a ride home for £5, claiming to live nearby. He then offered champagne to celebrate a casino win, which she poured away unnoticed. Later, he pressured her into drinking vodka, after which she remembers little. She made it home and became violently ill, with her head spinning intensely.
It was not until six months later, upon reading about Worboys' arrest, that she realised he was her attacker. Mrs Johnson was one of nearly 100 women who came forward and one of 14 selected to testify in court, choosing to waive her anonymity. She stated, "I feel I would know if Worboys had raped me that night. I'd have flashbacks or there would have been horrendous tell-tale signs when I woke the next day. But I will never truly know for sure what happened after he drugged me."
Legal Outcomes and Public Outcry
Worboys, now known as John Radford, was convicted in 2009 for attacks on 12 women. In 2019, he was convicted again for four further attacks after additional victims came forward following a public outcry over a Parole Board ruling that deemed him safe for release. The drama Believe Me aims to shed light on these failures and the enduring impact on survivors.
The series is set to premiere soon on ITV1 and ITVX, promising a gripping and unsettling portrayal of one of Britain's most notorious criminal cases and the systemic issues it exposed.
