The Met Police have challenged a ruling which led to two women who were seriously sexually assaulted by London cabbie John Worboys being awarded compensation totalling £41,250.

One of the women, identified only as DSD, was the first ofWorboys' victims to make a complaint to the Met in 2003, while the other, NBV, contacted them after she was attacked in July 2007.

Between 2002 and 2008, Worboys, who was jailed for life in 2009, carried out more than 100 rapes and sexual assaults using alcohol and drugs to stupefy his victims.

An IPCC investigation in 2010 found failings in Plumstead CID's handling of a complaint about Worboys.

And in 2013, the High Court ruled that the Met was liable to the women for failures in its investigation and, last year, said that DSD and NBV, who brought their claims under Article 3 of the Human Rights Act, which relates to inhuman or degrading treatment, should receive £22,250 and £19,000 respectively.

DSD alleged that she suffered a depressive disorder as a result of her treatment by officers during the 2003 investigation, while NBV claimed that she suffered serious distress, anxiety, guilt and an exacerbation of post-traumatic disorder and depression because of her treatment during 2007.

The Met's counsel Jeremy Johnson QC told the Court of Appeal on Monday that the challenge related to points of principle and nothing he said was to detract from the bravery of the women, who would keep their damages whatever the outcome.

"These women were attacked by a serial predatory sex offender. They did what all Londoners do - trust a black cab driver to take them home safely.

"Each was drugged and sexually abused. Each took the courageous step, which most of the victims didn't, of reporting the matter to the police. They had to re-live what happened to them.

"In each case, my clients accept they were let down in that there were steps which could and should have been taken to investigate what happened to them, which were not taken.

"Neither of them or any of Worboys' victims have any responsibility for what happened to them, or the fact he was not put behind bars earlier.

"We accept it is due to their bravery that he is serving an indeterminate sentence, and none of the submissions I make about the law is to detract from that."

Mr Johnson told the Master of the Rolls Lord Dyson, sitting with Lord Justice Laws and Lord Justice Kitchin, that the law did provide a remedy to claimants - but not that ordered by the High Court.

The law allowed for a civil damages action against a sexual assailant like Worboys and for compensation from the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority. DSD and NBV had each received compensation through these routes.

It also allowed for the making of a complaint to the Independent Police Complaints Commission which, in this case, resulted in officers being sanctioned and policy changes implemented.

But, what the law did not allow was a right of action for damages for errors in a police investigation, said counsel.

The judges are expected to reserve their decision at the end of the contested hearing which is due to last three days.

The case has been linked with an appeal against a High Court decision that Greater Manchester Police did not violate an assault victim's human rights because of deficiencies in their investigation.