Now victims of black cab rapist plan court bid to keep him in jail
VicTiMS of black cab rapist John Worboys yesterday vowed to launch court challenges in an attempt to keep him in jail after ministers scrapped a last-ditch bid to block his release.
They expressed anger after Justice Secretary David Gauke said it would ‘not be appropriate’ to bring a judicial review of the Parole Board’s decision to free the 60-year- old predator after less than ten years.
He abandoned the challenge after receiving legal advice from leading barristers that the organisation had followed the correct procedures.
it means former stripper Worboys, one of Britain’s worst sex offenders, could walk out of jail as early as next week.
Fury erupted earlier this month after the Parole Board ruled that the former London taxi driver no longer posed a threat to the
‘Emotional trauma’
public and directed that he should be released from topsecurity HMP Wakefield.
He received an indeterminate sentence in 2009, with a minimum term of eight years, for drugging and sexually assaulting 12 women in the back of his cab. But police have linked the prolific offender to more than 100 attacks.
in a statement to the commons yesterday, Mr Gauke said the prospect of Worboys being released was ‘deeply concerning’.
But he said the bar for a judicial review to succeed was ‘very high’ and legal experts in Whitehall had advised him it would be ‘inappropriate’ to proceed.
‘i know that the victims of these crimes have suffered significant emotional trauma,’ he said. ‘i know this will disappoint the victims in this case.
‘Given the crimes for which he has been convicted, on a personal level, candidly i share those concerns.’
Mr Gauke came under fire for backing down on a judicial review only five days after raising the prospect.
He emphasised that Worboys will not be released until his licensing conditions have been finalised, and victims signed up to a contact scheme have had their say on the restrictions.
it is understood these will include being placed in an approved hostel for serious sexual and violent offenders who are leaving jail, a nightly curfew, close supervision by probation officers and a ban on contacting his victims. Mr Gauke also pledged to look at introducing new measures which would give the Justice Secretary powers to challenge a decision to release a serious prisoner.
Tory MP Nick Boles, who was business minister until July 2016, criticised the Government’s ‘disappointing’ decision not to seek a judicial review.
He tweeted: ‘There is a timidity and lack of ambition about Mrs May’s Government which means it constantly disappoints. Time to raise your game, Prime
‘Let’s hire the best QC in Britain’
Minister. # worboys’. Later Mr Boles told MailOnline:‘ i think it’s a pathetic display. i don’t care what the advice was about the chances of success of a judicial review, i want my government to stand up for its conviction and to represent me and my constituents.
‘even if we are going to lose the case, let’s hire the best Qc in the country to go into a court and argue on behalf of the Government and the British people.
‘The process here has been ridiculous. The victims have not even been consulted and they are meant to have been.’ Worboys’ victims have demanded that the Parole Board place an ‘exclusion zone’ on Greater London so the rapist cannot return to the scene of his appalling crimes.
immediately after Mr Gauke’s statement, lawyers acting for the victims said they would be taking legal action to try to prevent Worboys’ release.
Harriet Wistrich, who represents two of Worboys’ victims, said judicial review proceedings would be launched against the Parole Board next week on the ground its decision was shrouded in secrecy and ‘irrational’.
They said, in a letter to the Parole Board earlier this week, that he ‘remains a danger to women and that everything should be done to stop his imminent release’.
if a High court judge agrees to issue a so-called ‘stay of release’, the rapist would be forced to remain behind bars until court proceedings have concluded.
if the bid for a judicial review leads to the way in which the Parole Board took the decision being declared unlawful, a new hearing would have to be convened. it could still decide that he is safe to release but could also rule, contrary to the original decision, that he must stay in prison for public protection.
YOU could almost smell the burning rubber as Justice Secretary David Gauke performed a screeching U-turn yesterday over the case of ‘black cab rapist’ John Worboys.
Having strongly indicated on Sunday that he would launch a judicial review to keep Worboys off the streets, Mr Gauke was forced into a humiliating climbdown after being told by his officials there were no grounds for going back to court.
What a pity he didn’t consult them before making rash promises he couldn’t keep.
This is just the latest setback for Worboys’ victims, who have been woefully let down at every stage in this sorry saga.
The police missed opportunities to catch Worboys earlier. Although he was convicted of assaulting 12 women, the CPS refused to prosecute him over 83 other attacks. He’s being freed after just nine years despite still being widely regarded as a threat to women. The Parole Board refuses to explain the reasons for Worboys’ release and didn’t even inform victims he was coming out.
This fiasco has been an affront to justice and an insult to the women terrorised by Worboys. In raising false hopes that the Government would block his release, Mr Gauke has compounded the victims’ agony.