Cobb's full crimes 'may never be known'

Kevin Cobb: Easy access to powerful drugs

Right up to the end of his four-week trial at the Old Bailey, nurse Kevin Cobb maintained the pretence that he was wrongly accused - the innocent victim of female sexual fantasies.

But the jury heard how he used the drug Midazolam to overcome and rape his victims, and the police believe many more may have been assaulted, but know nothing about it.

Hospitals are now taking more precautions to keep drugs under lock-and-key, but Kevin Cobb was a trusted nurse, who legitimately had access to powerful drugs.

Detective Superintendent Peter Cook of Surrey police: "The problem is that this drug is designed to make victims forget. It makes it difficult to identify victims, or for them to identify themselves as victims."

There are more victims - I am convinced of that

Det Supt Peter Cook

The police say they now want to hear from anyone else who may have been abused.

38-year-old Cobb, from Yeatley in Hampshire, lived in a secret world. To many he was a caring nurse, but he used his access to drugs for his own sexual gratification.

His first-known victim was a colleague, 31-year-old junior sister Susan Annis.

The two attended a nursing course in Brompton in November 1996. He slipped Midazolam into her drink, but she collapsed and died.

Susan Annis: A permanent tribute

The inquest was told that traces of the sedative were found in her body, but the coroner recorded an open verdict, as there was no evidence it had caused her death.

Susan Annis is still remembered at the hospital in Crawley where she worked. A ward has been named after her, and fellow nurses say they were shocked by her sudden death.

Kevin Cobb attended her funeral.

But he remained unchallenged, and continued his work at St Peter's Hospital in Chertsey.

In between taking medical histories and moving patients, he singled out attractive, confident career women in their early thirties for special treatment.

He had the perfect opportunity to abuse women who trusted him.

Police spokesman

"They were the sort of women who would not have been interested in Kevin Cobb," said Mr Cook.

Last January, in the Accident and Emergency department, he again used Midazolam on a female patient.

The 33-year-old woman was admitted with stomach pains, but she woke from a coma-like state to find him raping her. The woman raised the alarm, leading to a full inquiry by the authorities.

Three more victims came forward, and Cobb was arrested.

Staff at St Peter's were shocked by what happened. Director of Nursing, Joyce Winston-Smith told the BBC: "It has been very distressing for staff to know that one of their colleagues has turned out to have committed these distressing acts."

"There has been anger, staff feel betrayed," she added.

The Roofie Foundation was formed to help victims of drug-assisted rape, and their spokeswoman, Lynda Greenwood believes this case will put every woman on her guard.

"There are many dangerous places; night-clubs, pubs and parties, we have had them reported on business premises. There are situations where you really have to be very careful what you drink."