Carrie Johnson breaks silence after on-screen portrayal in ITV drama

Carrie Johnson shared a message following her on-screen portrayal in Believe Me, an ITV drama depicting the true story behind serial rapist John Worboys.

The mother-of-four, 37, is being played by actress Miriam Petche in the new series nearly two decades after she was spiked in his London taxi aged just 19. 

“It has been a hugely anxious wait knowing that Worboys was up for parole again,” Carrie wrote on X on Thursday. “The relief I feel knowing that he will remain behind bars is hard to put into words. Women and girls across Britain are safer as a result of this decision.”

John was first jailed in 2009 for 19 sexual offences linked to attacks on 12 victims between October 2006 and February 2008 in London, and given an indefinite sentence for public protection with a minimum term of eight years.

© Simon Ridgway

In 2019, he was sentenced to life with a minimum term of six years after more victims came forward about crimes he admitted to that took place between 2000 and 2008.

He was refused parole for a second time this week as the board were not satisfied that Worboys no longer posed a risk to the public, the spokesperson said in a statement published on Thursday.

© Simon Ridgway

A spokesperson for the parole board said: “The panel were not satisfied that he no longer posed a risk to the public, and accordingly did not direct his release.”

Carrie was one of nearly 100 women who came forward to the police and one of 14 who were selected to go to court to testify, bravely deciding to waive her right to anonymity.

What else has Carrie said about the upcoming adaptation?

When the series was announced, Carrie said: “I hope Believe Me serves as a wake-up call to the police, the CPS and the parole board… Reform matters but what we urgently need above all is a profound shift in culture.

“It takes enormous courage for women to come forward. They must know that when they do, they will be treated seriously and with respect, and that every effort will be made to ensure justice is done.” The four-part ITV series began on 10 May.