Black cab rapist given £166 k legal aid
Fury over payout to millionaire sex fiend Victims had to beg for cash to fight case
WEALTHY John Worboys received £166,553 in legal aid to defend his vile sex crimes, it has emerged.
But furious victims are having to crowdfund their bid to keep him in jail. One said: “Is this what you call justice?”
Is this what you call justice? He should be made to sell his assets VICTIM OF WORBOYS ON REVELATION OF HIS LEGAL AID
VICTIMS of black cab rapist John Worboys last night spoke of their fury at his legal aid handout as they are denied state cash to fight the decision to free him.
The property millionaire was awarded £166,553 to defend himself over a string of sex attacks.
And campaigners have claimed he got more legal aid for a Parole Board hearing that recently agreed he could be released from jail after eight years.
At the time of his trial in 2009, Worboys had property that included a £650,000 house on the Thames, a £670,000 house at Harpenden, Herts, and two flats worth around £600,000.
He still owns a £300,000 flat in Poole and a £400,000 flat in Enfield, North London
But victims who are trying to keep him behind bars have had to beg for cash with a crowdfunding campaign.
One said: “Is this what you call justice? Surely victims should be given legal aid to fight the case and Worboys should be made to sell his assets to finance his. I’m so angry.”
STRIPPER
Harry Fletcher of the Victims Rights Campaign added: “It’s extraordinary that a man with such assets was granted legal aid and his victims have to crowdfund to challenge the decision to release him.”
A judicial review case was brought by two of the attacker’s victims into the Parole Board’s decision to release Worboys. So far, more than £62,000 has been pledged from the public.
Worboys, 60, who also earned cash as a stripper while renting out at least two of his properties, was granted £85,704 in solicitor fees and £80,849 for barrister costs after his arrest in 2008, the Legal Aid Agency revealed.
He got it before means testing was introduced in 2010. All defendants in crown court had been eligible for legal aid. A judge could order some to be clawed back after a guilty verdict but this did not happen in the case of Worboys, who was convicted of nine charges, including rape.
Harriet Wistrich, lawyer for two of the victims, said: “We know 105 women reported [allegations to police]and their cases were linked to this same offender.” Those two victims yesterday won their legal fight with the Met for failing to properly investigate Worboys.
One told police: “Had you done your job, there wouldn’t be 105 victims. It’s been an emotional day.”