It it worth reporting possible attempted sexual assault years later?

[summerofresistance]

Every time I hear of John Warboys, the cab driver who drugged and raped women, I think of the time a cab driver stopped to offer me a lift home for free when I was on my own and very, very drunk (after a work do) and I stupidly accepted.

When we were about half way to where I live, he pulled into a car park and offered me a drink from a bottle of whisky. He then got out of his cab, and was going to get in the back with me. I got out and walked off to a friend's house nearby.

It doesn't sound so dodgy written down, perhaps, but it felt dodgy at the time. He didn't attempt to come after me though, he didn't trap me in the cab.

I sometimes wonder if that was John Warboys, because he wanted me to drink the whisky (I didn't).

Am I letting my imagination get the better of me? Would it be of any help even if it was him, given he's locked up now?

Now I've written it down, I guess it's more likely to be just be an ordinary cab driver trying it on, it's not as if there aren't loads of men who feel entitled to try it on with drunk women, about.

I was in my 20s at the time, so this was well over a decade ago.

To be clear - the only reason I think it might be worth reporting was if it might be useful info to help a case.

Should I maybe move this to legal?

I can't explain adequately in words why it felt so dodgy. Even though blind drunk, and he was being nice on the surface, I felt had to get out of there.

(Obviously getting in the back of his cab with a very drunk women isn't being nice, it's totally inappropriate but I mean his demeanor wasn't overtly threatening).

OP this must have been a scary experience for you. I have had similar happen and I never reported either and do regret not doing so.

Although I am usually all for reporting dodgy behaviour, I'm not sure that this would be helpful to report to the police given the time elapsed. Do you remember what the man looked like? The cab number etc.?

I do think it's helpful to discuss these things though so if it helps, perhaps you can talk more about it here and we can all support?

Are you able to remember much detail that might realistically help? Part of me says yes report but the other part reflects that the police are already extremely overstretched.

I am sorry that happened to you and the what-ifs are going to stay with you for a long time.
Yes, I think it is worth adding your information to a case if it can help show a pattern. A lot will depend on what information you actually have - was it a black cab you hailed, a mini cab you booked over the phone etc. Can you remember date, time or description? Anyone you told on the night like the friend who's house you walked to? Could they verify the time/what you said about what happened at the time? As an individual case I imagine it would be pretty tough to prove but you never know what missing piece of the jigsaw is being looked for or if it can help.

I also think that telling someone will help you move on a bit from re-living it and living with the what-ifs.

You could try crimestoppers if you don't want to go to a police station or via the phone. iF you think it could have been him then there would be a crime number etc.

Good luck.