I am thrilled Worboys will stay in jail... but justice let us down
PAROLE CHIEF QUITS AS RELEASE IS QUASHED Victim on failings as judges reverse rapist decision
A VICTIM of black cab rapist John Worboys has said she is “absolutely thrilled” after succeeding in blocking his release from prison.
But the woman, who can only be identified as DSD, yesterday said she also felt let down by the justice system after she was forced to bring the case herself.
Speaking after the High Court quashed the Parole Board’s decision to release Worboys, she said: “It is the whole system that has failed.
“I feel like I have been let down at every step. It is wrong that we have been put in this situation.
“As victims we should have been supported and not having to fight every step of the way in court.”
Judges have ordered the Parole Board to look at Worboys’ case again. The serial sex attacker will remain in prison pending the outcome.
Board chairman Professor Nick Hardwick was forced to quit in the wake of the decision over failings in the case.
He said he had been told by Justice Secretary David Gauke that his position was untenable. Prof Hardwick added he would not “pass the buck” but warned his sacking raised questions about the Board’s independence.
He wrote to Mr Gauke: “I am sorry for the mistakes that were made in this case but I have always made it clear that I will support the members and staff of the Board in the very difficult individual decisions they make, and I will accept accountability for the work of the Board.”
He added: “I believe this matter raises very troubling questions about how the Board’s independence can be safeguarded. I hope Parliament will consider what structural changes are necessary to ensure this independence is protected in future.”
Judge Sir Brian Leveson said the Board had erred in basing its assessment of the sex offender only on Worboys’ explanation of the offences he was convicted of, and not taking into account nearly 90 more he is believed to have committed.
Lawyers for DSD and another victim argued the Board’s decision to release Worboys, 60, was “irrational”.
They said the Board should have taken into account “critical evidence” of the “wider allegations” against the rapist.
The women have already successfully sued Metropolitan Police for a string of failings that left Worboys free to attack.
DSD said: “I have always said one of the reasons I am doing this is to give women the confidence that they can come forward and it will be dealt with.
“I wouldn’t want another woman to go through what I have been through the past 10 to 15 years.” Worboys was never prosecuted over DSD’s allegations but for a range of “sample” offences.
He was found by a High Court judge to have committed offences against DSD in her civil case against the Met.
The judge said the cabbie committed 105 offences against women between 2002 and 2008. Worboys settled a civil
We should have been supported and not having to fight all the way in court ‘DSD’ HITS OUT AT THE JUSTICE SYSTEM TREATMENT OF VICTIMS
claim made by DSD and 10 others for £241,000 without admitting wrongdoing.
DSD said she believes he could have been prosecuted in a criminal trial over her allegations and she will fight on.
She added: “At some point I do need to draw a line under all this.
“That is why I was keen to prosecute on my case, because that would give me the ultimate closure and I would be able to get on with my life. Having said that, I’m not quite ready to give up just yet.”
Worboys was jailed indefinitely in 2009, with a minimum eight-year term, for 19 offences, including rape, sexual assault and drugging against 12 victims.
Harriet Wistrich, for DSD, said “in excess of 10 women” who claim Worboys assaulted them had contacted her since the start of the High Court proceedings.
The three judges who quashed the decision to release him said a number of features of his case “give rise to concern”.
They said Worboys’ change of position to admitting sex attacks was a “dramatic volte face” after “at least six years of his adamantly maintaining his innocence”.
Sir Brian, who announced the decision, said the possibility that Worboys – now known as John Radford – was “not being open and honest with the professionals” and the Board “fell to be considered”.
Sir Brian, Mr Justice Jay and Mr Justice Garnham ruled the Board failed to consider “the extent to which the limited way in which he has described his offending may undermine his credibility”.
Sir Brian said: “Overall, the possibility exists that Mr Radford has provided what may be described as a carefully calibrated account, steering adroitly between admitting too much and too little, rather than one that is entirely forthcoming.”
Prime Minister Theresa May said yesterday’s decision raised “serious concerns” about Parole Board processes.
But Labour’s Yvette Cooper said the Ministry of Justice faced questions, adding: “It’s not a good look simply to say this is about responsibility of the Board if we’re to get to the reforms we need.” Mr Gauke said rules over Board processes will be examined “in their entirety”.
He announced plans whereby Board decisions can be challenged, with a judge-led panel sitting.
He will also scrap a rule barring it from publicly disclosing information about proceedings.
Mr Gauke added there “should have been much greater probing” of the case, adding: “I deeply regret that did not happen.”