Newspapers threaten legal action over Worboys Parole Board report

national newspapers have warned that they will launch a legal challenge if the Parole Board does not disclose its reasons for approving the release of black cab rapist John Worboys from prison.

The Sun and the Daily Mail have written to the board and to Justice Secretary David Gauke to demand the publication of the confidential report that led to the decision to direct Worboys’ release after a decade behind bars.

The papers said they had given officials seven days to respond, and any refusal to the request would see their lawyers

Black cab rapist: John Worboys

ready to launch a full judicial review application.

An article on The Sun’s website said: “The letter says the Parole Board’s report is ‘integral to the debate on a matter of profound public interest’ where there is ‘overwhelming public concern’.

“It warns the decision to keep the Worboys ruling secret is a breach of open justice and freedom of expression.

“It concludes: ‘We require that you publish the decision relating to Mr Worboys’.”

The Daily Mail said on its site: “Rule 25 of Parole Board Rules states that information about decisions made on the release of prisoners ‘must not be made public’.

“But the Mail and The Sun are arguing that such is the severity of the crimes for which he was convicted that the normal rules should be set aside.”

Worboys (60) was jailed indefinitely in 2009 with a minimum term of eight years for drugging and sexually assaulting women passengers. He was convicted of 19 offences against 12 victims.

It is feared Worboys may have more than 100 victims, and the Parole Board’s decision sparked an outcry when it was made public earlier this month.

The Parole Board said it was legally prohibited from disclosing decisions or evidence.

A spokesman added: “That is exactly why Nick Hardwick (the chair of the Parole Board) called for a review of the transparency around Parole Board decisions and welcomed the Lord Chancellor’s announcement to do just that.”

Last week, Mr Gauke said a reTWO view would look at whether there should be a mechanism to allow parole decisions to be reconsidered.

On Tuesday police said they were investigating a fresh allegation of historical sexual assault which is understood to have been made against Worboys.

The incident is said to have taken place in 1997 and was reported to police this month. Worboys has not been arrested.

News that the sex offender had been moved to a London jail ahead of his release prompted fresh outrage over the case.

Worboys was reportedly transferred from HMP Wakefield in West Yorkshire to HMP Belmarsh, south-east London, at the weekend.