OUTCRY AT NEW BLACK CAB RAPIST SCANDAL
TAXI rapist John Worboys is set to be freed within days after ministers abandoned a bid to block his release.
Fury erupted yesterday after Justice Secretary David Gauke announced there will be no official legal challenge to the Parole Board’s decision.
Critics described it as a further slap in the face for Worboys’ many victims and accused the Government of losing its nerve. Hopes had been raised after
Mr Gauke commissioned legal advice on whether to go for a judicial review of the board’s decision.
He was said to be doing “everything he could” to keep Worboys behind bars. But yesterday Mr Gauke said he had decided it would “not be appropriate” to go ahead with the challenge.
The decision means it has been left to victims to try to block the release of one of Britain’s most notorious rapists.
Yesterday lawyers acting for two of them confirmed they intend to go ahead with their legal challenge next week.
Solicitor Harriet Wistrich said: “The two women bringing the claim are doing so because they are convinced that Worboys remains a danger to women and that everything should be done to stop his imminent release.”
The women’s lawyers will argue that the Parole Board decision was “wholly irrational” and “unlawful”.
MPs and campaigners criticised the Government decision last night. Lisa Longstaff, of charity Women Against Rape, said: “It is ridiculous that victims are having to bring this action. It is the state’s responsibility to protect the safety of the public. It seems that from start to finish in this case the state has not taken its responsibility seriously and still not learned from its mistakes.”
Tory MP Zac Goldsmith said he was “hugely disappointed” by the announcement and called the Parole Board’s decision to release Worboys “perverse and appalling”.
He said the victims’ challenge was now “the best chance of averting an appalling, hideous injustice”.
Worboys, 60, was jailed indefinitely in 2009, with a minimum term of eight years. The former stripper and porn actor, who has changed his name to John Radford, was convicted of 19 offences against 12 victims. But he has been linked to more than 100 attacks.
Victims were plied with champagne spiked with powerful sedatives after Worboys told them he was celebrating lottery or casino wins. The drugs left the women unable to protect themselves as he pounced on them in the back of his cab.
Police and prosecutors have faced fierce criticism for their handling of the case. At the time of Worboys’ conviction, 83 women had registered complaints. Another 19 then came forward. But the Crown Prosecution Service declined to press more charges. Many victims said they had been assured that Worboys would remain behind bars for many years. Their lives were turned upside down earlier this month when it was announced that the Parole Board had directed his release following a hearing held last November.
Some were horrified they had not even been informed.
Among the 14 women who gave evidence at his trial was Carrie Symonds, who was just 19 when she was attacked.
If the Government had been successful in a court challenge, Worboys could have been kept behind bars while the case was reconsidered.
But in a statement to the Commons, Mr Gauke said: “Having taken expert legal advice, I have decided it would not be appropriate for me as Secretary of State to proceed with such a case.
“I understand that some will be disappointed in my decision but I have acted swiftly to ensure this issue is examined and, hopefully, provide some clarity for victims.”
Critics accused Mr Gauke of losing his nerve, saying ministers regularly ignore advice from Government lawyers.
LBC Radio presenter Iain Dale said: “What a shame David Gauke bowed to lily-livered civil service advice. What’s the point of being in Government if you don’t do what you know to be the right thing?”
Mr Gauke emphasised that Worboys will not be released until his licensing conditions have been finalised and victims have had their say on the restrictions.
He also disclosed that a review announced last week will be widened to look at whether there should be a mechanism to allow parole decisions to be reconsidered.
Lawyer Richard Scorer, of Slater and Gordon, which represented 11 victims, said his clients were “disappointed” but urged people to support crowdfunding efforts to finance a judicial review.
He added: “It is crucial that the decision to release this manipulative, calculating and dangerous man can be considered by the courts as soon as possible.”
London mayor Sadiq Khan said he had instructed counsel on the possibility of a separate judicial review, adding: “I am deeply concerned and unhappy about the prospect of Worboys’ impending release.”
‘His victims are convinced that Worboys remains a danger to women’
THE Justice Secretary admitted he was not happy about the situation when announcing the Government would not be challenging the decision to release the “black-cab rapist” John Worboys. David Gauke accepted the fact that the victims would be horrified, said this should not stop others from making a legal challenge and added, “On a personal level I share those concerns.”
Clearly the Government’s legal advisers have come to the conclusion that a judicial review would be difficult to win but the fact remains that this man committed appalling crimes and may well still be a danger to the public.
If the Government is not able to resolve this horrible case then all help should be given to those who are able to. Worboys’s victims are saying they intend to move forward with judicial review proceedings. They are to be congratulated for their bravery and we wish them success.
Meanwhile, prosecutors believe that Worboys might have carried out more than 100 attacks. Surely some action could be taken?
It is imperative that this wicked man be kept off our streets. It is also essential that lessons are learned from this debacle.
The parole board seems neither to have understood the depth of public feeling about this case nor, indeed, the terrible impact rape can have on a victim’s life and family. This must never happen again.