A taxi driver accused of drugging female passengers before sexually assaulting them faces a further 12 charges relating to eight women.

John Worboys, 50, of Rotherhithe, southeast London, was arrested after a number of women told police that they had been entrapped by a driver who told them he had won money before plying them with drugged alcohol.

He is accused of rape, multiple counts of sexual assault and administering a substance with intent.

Today at Croydon Crown court it was said that it was planned to add the 12 counts to 11 already filed.

Detectives have received 83 complaints in total.

Officers will fly to Australia in August and then to Spain in September to get statements from different women before they collate all their evidence.

Today at a pre-trial hearing at Croydon Crown Court Johannah Cutts, for the prosecution, said: “In total there were 83 complaints in this matter. There are further investigations to take place over the next six weeks and it is likely there will be some further charges.”

Mr Worboys will enter a plea at a hearing on October 17, to give police and the Crown Prosecution service time to finalise the charges, and today Judge Warwick McKinnon set the trial date as 26 January 2009.

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