Carrie Johnson reveals powerful impact of ITV’s drama Believe Me

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Note: The following article contains discussion of rape and sexual misconduct.

This week, as the final episode of Daniel May’s ITV drama Believe Me aired, Carrie Johnson, a survivor of John Worboys, shared her thoughts on the show’s impact and what still needs to be done.

During an interview on Good Morning Britain with Susanna Reid, actress Miriam Petche (who played Carrie in the drama Believe Me) revealed that the show prompted other women to contact her with their own stories of alleged abuse by John Worboys. She encouraged more victims to come forward with their experiences, hoping to prevent the so-called black cabbie rapist from ever being released.

The documentary Believe Me centers on the brave stories of Sarah and Laila, who tirelessly pursued justice after their cases were initially ignored by the Metropolitan Police. When asked about whether police attitudes have improved, Johnson expressed confidence that, thanks to media attention and the film Believe Me, victims who come forward with information about the John Worboys case would now be treated fairly.

“Hopefully the police are very aware of the public feeling on this case,” said Johnson.

When she was 19, Johnson was drugged by Worboys, but fortunately, he wasn’t able to assault her. She considers herself lucky to have escaped. Surprisingly, after the failed attack, Worboys actually gave her his phone number, and this proved crucial in securing his conviction.

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However Johnson still fears what will happen if Worboys is one day released.

We were warned he was extremely dangerous and would be reviewed after seven years, with the expectation that this would continue indefinitely – another seven years, and so on. However, that assessment simply wasn’t accurate.

Back in 2017, my parole – the one I’d already been granted – got thrown into question. Apparently, a woman named Sarah, who was also a victim of Worboys, teamed up with Laila to try and fight it in court. Thankfully, we managed to get that overturned, and I was eventually released as agreed.

Commenting on the recent parole hearing for Worboys, Johnson said on GMB that while they generally expected he would remain in prison – given his history – they couldn’t be absolutely certain.

She felt a great sense of relief when she learned he wouldn’t be released on parole, but quickly asked her victim advocate when he might be eligible again. She was informed it could be in just one or two years.

I’m here primarily because we need to prevent his release if he becomes eligible for parole as early as next year,” Johnson explained to Reid. “The most effective way to do that is likely for more women to share their experiences. We know his crimes occurred between 2000 and when he was finally convicted in 2009.

He worked as a cab driver during that time, often driving every night, which means he could have picked up as many as 1,000 or even more passengers.

Believe Me is available to stream now on ITVX.

Hey, if reading this story brought up anything difficult for you, please know there’s help available. Rape Crisis England and Wales is a great resource – you can find info on their website or call their helpline at 0808 802 9999. If you’re in Scotland, Rape Crisis Scotland’s helpline is 08088 01 03 02. Seriously, don’t hesitate to reach out if you need to talk to someone.

If you’re in the US and need help, please contact RAINN, or call the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 800-656-4673.

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2026-05-20 16:51