Carrie Johnson believes there could be ‘hundreds’ more victims of black cab rapist John Worboys.

Mrs Johnson, who helped bring the serial sex attacker to justice, said she had been contacted by more women who believe they were assaulted by him.

She told Good Morning Britain: ‘The truth is that his crimes span from, what we know, from 2000 up to when he was convicted in 2009.

‘And he was a cab driver for that duration, out potentially every night in his cab, so there could be up to 1,000, if not more than that.’

Worboys is serving a life sentence after luring women into his taxi late at night, pretending he had won money and offering them celebratory drinks laced with drugs.

His case was recently before the Parole Board, who ruled against releasing him saying he ‘continues to represent a high risk of committing further serious sexual offences against women’.

Mrs Johnson, one of several women who spoke out to keep Worboys behind bars, said news he had been refused parole came as a ‘huge relief’ to many survivors.

She told Good Morning Britain that more people have come forward saying they believed they had been in his cab after watching an ITV dramatisation of the case.

This ‘might really help keep him behind bars for good’, she added.

Mrs Johnson said: ‘I think there’ll be women who, like me, were drugged, who might not realise they were drugged, who just thought, God, maybe that last drink didn’t sit well with me, or, or now maybe they’ve seen what’s happened and they think: “Oh well, it’s done.”

‘I would urge them to come forward if they can.’

Who is John Worboys and what did he do?

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

He was given an indefinite sentence for public protection with a minimum term of eight years.

At the time, detectives linked him to at least 85 crimes. Following the parole board’s latest decision last week, it was revealed Worboys has admitted attacking 90 women.

Worboys turned to cab-driving in 1999 after a 13-year career as a stripper under the name ‘Terry the Minder’.

He tried to paint himself as a ‘white knight’ who was the victim of inappropriate advances from female fares while going out of his way to ‘get them home safely’.

Many of his victims were young women who had been drinking in trendy night spots in the West End and Chelsea.

The cabbie offered them Champagne spiked with powerful sedatives to celebrate a fictional lottery win, backed up with a carrier bag stuffed full of cash.

The drugs left the women insensible and unable to protect themselves as he pounced on them in the back of the vehicle.

Reflecting on her own experience in the Daily Mail last weekend, Mrs Johnson recounted the night the cab driver spiked her drink after claiming he had won big at a casino.

While she managed to pour one glass of champagne onto the floor, he later returned with a bottle of vodka, which she would discover had been spiked.

After making it home, she said she ‘never made it into my bed’.

‘Instead, I passed out in the bathroom, lying in the empty bathtub, fully clothed,’ she said.

Years later, allegations against Worboys emerged and a friend Mrs Johnson had confided in contacted her about the case.

Mrs Johnson said she was able to identify him in a line-up and provided the police with a mobile phone number he had given her.

The publicity around the case led further victims to come forward, and Worboys was charged with more crimes dating between 2000 and 2008, which he admitted.

In 2019, he was handed two life sentences with a minimum term of six years.

Worboys will be considered for parole again in around two years’ time.

Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.

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Sir Grant Shapps resigned as chairman of Cambridge Aerospace after he was contacted by an ethics watchdog

A former Conservative defence secretary has resigned from his job with a missile manufacturer over concerns he broke rules governing former ministers’ jobs. Sir Grant Shapps, who served as defence minister under Rishi Sunak, resigned as chairman of Cambridge Aerospace on April 30 “to simplify matters”.

It followed what he described as a “greater-than-anticipated focus on military technology” by the company. His resignation came after he was contacted by ministerial ethics watchdog Sir Laurie Magnus over concerns about his compliance with the rules in light of Cambridge Aerospace securing a multi-million-pound missile contract with the Government.

Sir Grant said he had no involvement with the contract or the company’s military work, saying despite his title of “chairman” he had not chaired its board or even been a company director, but rather “one of several co-founders”. In correspondence with Sir Grant, Sir Laurie said the former defence secretary had “allowed a perception of impropriety to develop” and “failed to uphold the standards expected in the rules”.

The now defunct Advisory Committee on Business Appointments (Acoba) approved Sir Grant’s role with Cambridge Aerospace in 2025 on the condition that he play no part in its defence-related work until two years after he left office. The decision was criticised by anti-corruption campaigners at the time, including Labour MP Phil Brickell who said Sir Grant’s claim the company was focused on “civilian aerospace” was “stretching credulity” given the firm’s own description of itself as involved in “defence tech”.

In correspondence with Sir Grant, Sir Laurie questioned whether he had complied with this condition, noting the company “seems publicly to have only one project, which is defence-related”. The watchdog initially contacted Sir Grant following the announcement on April 10 of a contract for Cambridge Aerospace to supply the UK and its Gulf allies with “Skyhammer” interceptor missiles.

Sir Laurie said the announcement “appears to be at direct variance with your original description of the role”. He added: “It is, on the face of it, difficult to reconcile the current scope of Cambridge Aerospace’s operations with the restriction that you avoid defence matters entirely, and in the absence of a fresh application for advice in view of changes to the nature of the business of Cambridge Aerospace under your chairship.”

Sir Grant said in response that he had “scrupulously” followed Acoba’s rules and was not involved “in any way, at any time, in any capacity” in the contract between Cambridge Aerospace and the Ministry of Defence. However, he apologised for not seeking further advice as Cambridge Aerospace began working on defence matters, saying this was “an oversight for which the excessive speed of events is the only mitigating circumstance”.

He added: “To simplify matters, in view of recent geopolitical events, and a greater-than-anticipated focus on military technology at Cambridge Aerospace, I have agreed to step down.” Sir Grant also declined to answer a series of detailed questions from Sir Laurie, citing “legal obligations of confidentiality which I cannot unilaterally waive”.

Mr Brickell said he welcomed Sir Grant’s resignation, but called for tougher sanctions for former ministers who broke the rules.He told the Press Association: “When ex-Conservative minister Grant Shapps moved from defence secretary to aerospace firms linked to sectors he oversaw, it only reinforced the public perception that ministers can cash in on their contacts and insider knowledge with little scrutiny.

“It is good that Shapps has finally resigned from the role he should never have taken, but unfortunately the horse has already bolted. Without meaningful sanctions, it risks looking like little more than a rubber stamp.”

The sinkhole emerged on Eston Rec towards the end of 2024 and was later cordoned off by Redcar and Cleveland Council to ensure the safety of the public.

Last year the local authority contracted specialist consultants costing £30,000 to advise on how the risk of any further collapse could be prevented and to assess long-term measures which could be put in place.

The council previously said it hoped to restore the area to how it was before, although it has proved far from a straightforward task.

A Facebook post from cabinet member for neighbourhoods, Neil Bendelow and his ward colleague Sue Jeffrey said the sinkhole had been identified as being above an old gypsum mine shaft dating back to the 1860s.

They said: “As the ground around it isn’t stable enough to cap it, a repair plan has been worked up with geotechnical engineers to fill and stabilise the shaft.

“The work is expected to start after the school summer holidays and should take around ten weeks, so the area could reopen by the end of October.”

No explanation was given for the timescale and the council has been contacted for comment.

Sinkholes are a naturally occurring or human activity-related depression in the ground caused by the dissolution of underlying rock or removal of supporting material. 

Eston Rec is in line for much needed public realm improvements, including new lighting, CCTV, footpaths, play equipment and landscaping with designs and planning permission having previously been agreed.

Commenting on the councillors’ post, former Teesville ward councillor Vince Smith said: “Will be great to have the [sinkhole] problem solved as the other work to improve the Rec begins as well.”

The final two bodies from a group of Italian divers have been recovered from an underwater cave network in the Maldives, authorities said.

Five Italian divers died last ⁠week in a scuba diving accident after entering a deepwater cave for an exploration mission, in what was the deadliest diving tragedy in the island’s history.

The first body was recovered the same day and two more on Tuesday from a cave at a depth of 60m. Maldivian National Defense Force rescuer, Mohamed Mahudhy, also died from decompression complications over the weekend.

The Maldivian government said the remains of the last two divers, identified as Giorgia Sommacal, 22, and Muriel Oddenino, 31, had been recovered from the cave and brought to the surface.

Mahudhy’s death led to the suspension of the mission and prompted the Italian authorities to launch an international recovery effort.

The government on Monday said three Finnish diving experts, assisted by police and military personnel, located the bodies in the deepest section of the cave.

All the bodies have been moved to a mortuary in the capital Male, an official from the president’s office said.

The Italian diving group was ⁠led by Monica Montefalcone, 51, a University of Genoa professor and marine ecologist who was a regular diver in Maldivian waters in the Indian Ocean, and included her daughter Giorgia, biomedical engineering student Muriel Oddenino, research fellow Federico Gualtieri, and diving instructor Gianluca Benedetti.

The divers had entered ⁠a deepwater cave for exploration ​last ⁠week after being granted the necessary permit to research soft corals in the Devana ⁠Kandu site. The university, however, claimed that the scuba diving activity during which the accident occurred “was not part of the activities envisaged by the scientific mission, but was carried out in a personal capacity”, according to Italian daily Corriere della Sera.

The group disappeared after entering the cave system located about 50m below the surface. In the Maldives, standard recreational diving is restricted to depths of 30m, with deeper dives requiring technical training and specialised gear.

Authorities said the coast guard was alerted around midday on Thursday, and later that evening rescuers recovered one body from nearly 60m underwater, significantly deeper than the divers were believed to have intended to reach.

Alfonso Bolognini, president of the Italian Society of Underwater and Hyperbaric Medicine, theorised that two things could have happened after the group was potentially sucked into the cave where they ran out of oxygen.

“Either everyone was sucked in or one was sucked in and the others attempted a rescue,” he told the Italian outlet Adnkronos.

Maldivian authorities are investigating multiple possible causes, ⁠including whether the ‌group descended far deeper than expected.

The government said it had suspended the operating licence of the dive boat the Italian divers were using.

Mohamed Hussain Shareef, a spokesperson for the Maldives president’s office, said the investigation would focus on whether those in charge of the fatal expedition “took the correct precautions”.

“We believe that the retrieval of the bodies will itself reveal a lot, as far as that part of the investigation is concerned,” he said. “But that doesn’t take from the fact that cave diving in itself is very, very dangerous.”

Meanwhile, prosecutors in Rome opened a culpable homicide investigation into the diving tragedy.

Carlo Sommacal told Repubblica that his wife “would never have put our daughter’s life at risk”.

He hailed his wife as being “among the best divers on the face of the earth”. “If there really was a yellow alert, they would have dived first and something must have happened down there,” he said.

“Maybe one of them ran into trouble, maybe the oxygen tanks, I have no idea. But I’m ready to swear anything about Monica’s behaviour.”

The Ripon Group, one of the largest agricultural machinery and ground care dealerships in the UK, has recruited Chris Northway, who will also join the company board.

Over his 18-year career, Northway, a chartered accountant who started his career at KPMG, has held a number of senior finance roles in capital-intensive, stock-heavy, multi-site organisations.

His most recent role was, including most recently at Barrett Steel, a Bradford-based steel supplier and stock controller, where he was director of financial control.

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In his new role, Northway, who graduated from the University of York, leads Ripon’s finance function.

Reporting to the CEO, he will play a crucial role in financial planning, strategic decision-making, and building financial models to inform growth plans and business performance.

John Deere tractors is one of the company’s top brands (Image: Pic supplied)

The recruitment was supported by Headstar, a financial recruitment company based in Leeds.

Richard Simpson, chief executive officer at Ripon Group, said: “Headstar provided fantastic support in identifying exceptional finance leaders, with Chris standing out as the clear choice from a strong shortlist.

“His experience in complex, multi-location businesses, combined with his technical expertise and commercial acumen, makes him a superb addition to our leadership team, and I’m excited to be working closely with him to advance our growth and transformation plans.”

Established in 1982, the £160m turnover business says it is one of North Yorkshire’s largest and most successful companies.

It retails high-profile brands including John Deere, Kuhn, Bailey and Kramer, across 13 depots in Yorkshire, Teesside, Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire.

The depots include Stockton-on-Tees, Ripon, Keighley, Malton, Tadcaster, Darrington, and Market Weighton.

The company employs 270 staff and its headquarters are located on Dallamire Lane, Ripon.

Earlier this year, in March, The Ripon Group signed the Armed Forces Covenant in support of service leavers who can resettle into roles within the agriculture and turf industries.

The move complements John Deere’s Military Hiring Programme, which offers service leavers new career opportunities to work on some of the world’s most advanced machinery used by farmers and turf professionals.

BEIJING (AP) — Russian President Vladimir Putin praised his close ties with Chinese leader Xi Jinping and said their countries are partners in trade and international affairs as they opened bilateral talks Wednesday on his trip to Beijing.

Xi welcomed Putin with a ceremony at the Great Hall of the People only days after meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump. The quick succession of Trump’s and Putin’s visits highlighted Beijing’s growing role as an international superpower, experts say.

Putin greeted Xi warmly as they met for bilateral talks at the Great Hall of the People.

“My dear friend,” Putin said. “We are truly delighted to see you. We keep in constant touch, both personally and through our aides in the government.”

Xi also stressed the “political mutual trust and strategic cooperation” between the countries, according to Chinese state media. The two leaders have praised each other profusely in the past, with Xi at one point describing Putin as his “best and most intimate friend.”

Energy purchases top meeting’s agenda

Xi and Putin were set to focus on energy and security as well as their overall ties. The two sides agreed to extend a friendship treaty first signed in 2001, Chinese state media reported.

China became Russia’s top trading partner after Moscow’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Beijing has said it is neutral in the conflict while maintaining trade ties with the Kremlin despite economic and financial sanctions by the U.S. and Europe.

China is the top customer for Russian oil and gas supplies, and Moscow expects the war in Iran to increase the demand.

In his meeting with Xi, Putin stressed their countries’ economic ties.

“The driving force behind economic cooperation is Russian-Chinese collaboration in the energy sector,” Putin said. “Amid the crisis in the Middle East, Russia continues to maintain its role as a reliable supplier of resources, while China remains a responsible consumer of these resources.”

Xi stressed the need of “complete cessation of hostilities” in the Middle East, according to Chinese state media.

“An early end to the conflict will help reduce disruptions to energy supply stability, the smooth flow of industrial and supply chains, and international trade order,” Xi said.

A Russian presidential aide said earlier Russia’s oil exports to China grew by 35% in the first quarter of 2026 and that Russia is one of the biggest exporters of natural gas to China.

Xi and Putin show a united front on international affairs

Putin also stressed China and Russia’s cooperation in foreign policy as “one of the key stabilizing factors on the international stage.”

“In the current tense situation on the international stage, our close cooperation is particularly in demand,” he said.

In February 2022, just weeks before Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, China and Russia announced a “no limits” partnership during a trip by Putin to Beijing.

Beijing says it is neutral in the conflict, though in practice it supports Moscow through frequent state visits, growing trade and joint military drills. China has also ignored demands from the West to stop providing high-tech components for Russia’s weapons industries.

Image-making visit

The two leaders are scheduled to sign cooperation agreements during Putin’s two-day visit.

But regardless of specific deals, the primary purpose of the visit is to reaffirm the countries’ ties as well as project Beijing’s image as an influential superpower, experts say.

“The optics matter,” said Steve Tsang, director of the SOAS China Institute at the University of London.

“The message is clearly one that China maintains friendship and strategic partnership with whichever power it likes, and the USA is just one of them.”

Putin and Xi both need to use their close ties in order to prop up their images at home, said Willy Lam, a senior China fellow at the Jamestown Foundation.

Putin “needs to tell his countrymen and the world that Russia has China’s support in terms of buying its oil and gas and other tangible and intangible financial support,” Lam said.

Meanwhile, for Xi, having both Trump and Putin visit in such close succession is a major source of credit with the country’s top Communist leadership.

Putin noted earlier this month that Moscow and Beijing have reached “a very substantial step forward in our cooperation in the oil and gas sector.”

“Practically all the key issues have been agreed upon,” he said. “If we succeed in finalizing these details and bringing them to a conclusion during this visit, I will be extremely pleased.”

Putin also praised their bilateral relationship as a crucial, balancing force in international relations.

“Interaction between such nations as China and Russia undoubtedly serves as a factor of deterrence and stability,” he said.

Moscow welcomes China’s dialogue with the U.S. as another stabilizing element for the global economy, Putin added.

“We stand only to benefit from this, from the stability and constructive engagement between the U.S. and China,” he said.

___

Mistreanu reported from Bangkok.