A London sex worker says she warned police someone could die after she was choked, sexually assaulted and held against her will in the home of a man now accused of murder.

But police didn’t believe her story, and as a result, she contends, a second woman was assaulted and a third is dead.

“I told them everything. They did nothing,” she said. “They basically thought I was lying. The cops treated me like I brought it on myself. They did nothing. They didn’t charge him. They treated me like a piece of sh--.”

In an exclusive interview with The Free Press, the woman said despite her warnings, and attempts to contact police for two weeks, officers only called her after a second woman complained of assault.

“They did not want to hear what I was saying. What happened to the second girl and (homicide victim) Josie Glenn didn’t have to happen.”

Her story may be the most damning indictment of police as questions grow about how the London force handled the case of Oluwatobi Boyede, and how they approach violence against women, especially sex workers.

“They need to do something about how they feel toward working girls,” the woman said. “If we can’t depend on them, what are we supposed to do?”

London police said Friday they could not comment on the woman’s allegations.

“Due to the fact that the matter is currently before the courts and the concerns are in relation to an individual’s interaction with member(s) of the London Police Service, we are unable to comment,” said Const. Sandasha Bough.

“However, if an individual has concerns or complaints about an interaction with police, there are several options available to make a complaint.”

Bough attached a link to the complaint form on the London Police Service website to share with the woman.

The woman’s experience is common among escorts, body rub parlour workers and strippers in London, said Megan Walker, executive director of the London Abused Women’s Centre.

Although London police officers working the anti-human trafficking section are trained how to approach women who’ve been assaulted, that message isn’t getting down to front-line officers, she said.

“We’ve been trying for years to get police officers to understand what they need to do. They don’t seem willing to do it,” Walker said.

Thrust under a harsh spotlight in a national news report this year about police dismissals of sexual assault complaints as unfounded, with one of Canada’s highest rates in that report, London police did their own review and found only a fraction of their investigations fall into that category.

Boyede, 25, is charged with second-degree murder in the death of Glenn, 26, whose remains were found in his family home in southeast London Oct. 27.

But the record of charges against him date back to February, court records show.

One woman complained of an assault Feb. 16.

Another complained of assault about Feb. 26.

Boyede wasn’t charged with the first set of offences until March 2.

Police did not issue information about the charges to the media, public or groups protecting women in London. Nor did police tell several organizations protecting women in London that Boyede was released on bail in April, and that a condition of his bail was an order not to contact or communicate with anyone for paid sexual services.

The name of the woman in the alleged Feb. 16 assault is protected under a court-ordered publication ban. She provided details about herself and the incident, that only she would know, and that The Free Press had confirmed independently.

“I am a sex worker, but I have no criminal record and I don’t have a history with drugs,” she said. “I do this to support my family. There’s so many good women out there that have to make ends meet somehow. I feel so bad for Josie, her family. They are in my prayers. I can’t imagine how hard this must be for them.”

The woman said she took a call about 11:30 p.m. Feb. 15 and arrived at Boyede’s home.

Without going into details that will be part of a court case, she said she was held against her will all night. At one point, she managed to call 911 and leave the phone on for a minute or so while she shouted at her assailant to stop hurting her and to let her go.

But there was no way of knowing where the assault was taking place. When police called back, she could not answer. She endured another hour or so of assault, she said.

“I was seconds away from losing my life. I was about to die. I just thought about the people I love and that I can’t die right now.”

Finally, about 7:30 a.m. Feb. 16, she got out of the house and called 911, she said. A male officer and a female officer showed up.

The male officer did most of the questioning while the female officer stayed mostly in the background, the woman said.

“I was visibly injured,” she said. “I told them he was trying to kill me.”

As well, the officers were presented physical evidence that proved she was confined, the woman said, unwilling to provide any other details that might be part of a court case.

Despite all that, she said all the officers did was promise to open an investigation, but added they weren’t going to lay a charge at that point.

“The male officer had no sympathy. It was a waste of his time. They dismissed the whole thing,” she said.

The woman said she suspects it’s because she works in the sex trade.

“Once they put you in that box and check that box, they don’t care.”

The officers told her she could take an ambulance to the hospital. She’s still astounded by the fact police thought she should leave her car at the house where she said she’d just been assaulted.

“I just drove home in shock. My neck, my body was in so much pain.”

A friend made her go to the hospital, where she received compassion and a full assessment of her injuries, which was sent with her approval to police.

But for the next two weeks, she called police several times, leaving messages and warning them about her concerns, she said.

“I never felt so low in all my life. I only pressed the issue with them because I was scared something like this would happen to someone else.”

It appears only after the second complaint did police call her in for an interview, and then several days later, have charges laid against Boyede.

At her police interview, she stressed her belief in the danger to other women.

“I said he will kill someone if you don’t do something.”

For months, she tried to put the assault out of her mind. Police never called her back, she said.

Only after Glenn’s remains were found did police contact her to ask how she was doing, the woman said.

“I had no idea what happened,” she said, close to tears. “They didn’t talk to me for months. Now, all of a sudden, they are saying they are thinking about me.’

The woman said she tried to put what happened out of her mind.

“Now, I can’t sleep, I can’t eat. I am very emotional.”

The woman said she attended a vigil Thursday night for Glenn, and in conversations marked by anger and exasperation came several moments of sadness for the slain woman and her family.

“I know what she went through,” the woman said.

Boyede hasn’t entered a plea to the second-degree murder charge.

A preliminary hearing is scheduled for March on all the earlier charges against him.

rrichmond@postmedia.com

twitter.com/RandyRatLFPress

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Oluwatobi Boyede chronology

Feb. 16:Woman complains of sexual assault at Boyede family home.

Feb. 26: Second woman complains of assault at same home. Boyede charged, released to appear in court later.

March 2: Boyede rearrested, charged with sexual assault, forcible confinement, choking and assault of first woman Feb. 16.

April 26:Released from jail with sureties and specific bail conditions, including no contact with anyone for paid sexual services.

July 30:Rearrested for alleged curfew violation; released again.

Oct. 28:Charged with second-degree murder in death of Josephine (Josie) Glenn, 26.