New Minister ‘may block release of black cab rapist’

NEW Justice Secretary David Gauke is considering a bid to block the release of black-cab rapist John Worboys.

Mr Gauke has asked lawyers to see if it is possible to launch a judicial review of the contentious Parole Board decision to set the serial sex attacker free after less than ten years in jail.

The Justice Secretary will learn as early as this week whether a legal challenge was possible, The Mail on Sunday understands.

The extraordinary development raises the prospect of 60-year-old Worboys – who had been due for release this month – being kept behind bars until a fresh legal review is carried out.

Four Cabinet Ministers had warned Mr Gauke that Worboys’ early release could be unlawful as his victims were not consulted.

Worboys was jailed in 2009 after being convicted of drugging and sexually assaulting 12 women and the raping one of them. But another 93 allegations were made against him which did not go to court.

A Ministry of Justice spokesman said Mr Gauke was minded to move forward ‘if there is a reasonable prospect of success’ for a judicial review.

however, sources said that Mr Gauke, who only took on his new Cabinet brief last week, recognised it was a ‘very high bar’ for the Government itself to launch such a legal challenge.