Thu, 27 Oct 2011
A COVENTRY taxi driver has gone on trial accused of raping five women.
Black cab driver John Naul, 63, is alleged to have carried out the attacks over a seven-year period, Coventry Crown Court was told.
At least one of the alleged attacks took place in the back of his taxi at a secluded spot near Coombe Abbey.
His victims were all said to be prostitutes working in the city.
Naul, of St Austell Road, Wyken, forced them to have degrading sex because they owed him money, a jury was told.
He denies any wrongdoing – claiming the women had agreed to let him carry out a certain act if they failed to pay up in time.
Opening the case for the prosecution yesterday, Peter Arnold told the jury: “Between 2003 and 2010, in the Coventry area, he raped five prostitutes and on two of the victims has performed other illegal sexual acts.
“The evidence suggests he was in a position of some control or power over these women, and that he derived some sadistic and sexual pleasure from inflicting these sexual acts upon them.”
The barrister said the first alleged attack happened in the back of Naul’s London-style cab on a secluded track near Coombe Abbey in April 2003.
He is alleged to have indecently assaulted her twice and raped her twice at knifepoint.
At a flat in Bell Green sometime between January 2005 and December 2006 he is alleged to have raped another prostitute and forced her to engage in sexual activity.
Between January 2009 and December 2010 Naul is accused of raping a third prostitute, again near Coombe Abbey..... (cont.)
Click to view the profile for Peter Arnold - Prosecuting
