Court overturns decision to release 'black cab rapist' from prison

THE DECISION TO release serial rapist John Worboys from prison has been overturned by the UK High Court.

Worboys’ victims had called on the Parole Board to reconsider its decision to release him.

The Guardian is reporting that three judges at the High Court in London have ordered the Parole Board to carry out a “fresh determination”, and that Worboys will remain in jail pending the outcome.

Two women had brought forward the legal challenge.

When announcing their decision today, Sir Brian Leveson, Mr Justice Jay and Mr Justice Garnham said the Parole Board should have undertaken “further inquiry into the circumstances of his offending”.

The chair of the Parole Board, Nick Hardwick, was forced to resign over the situation after Justice Secretary David Gauke said his position was untenable.

In January, Hardwick had said he “very concerned” that Worboys’ victims were not told about his imminent release from prison.

Labour MP Yvette Cooper is among those to welcome today’s decision, she had previously said Worboys’ release raised “very serious questions”.

‘Black cab rapist’ 

Worboys, 60, was jailed in April 2009 after a jury convicted him of 19 charges of drugging and sexually assaulting at least 12 women, including raping one of them.

Worboys, who became known as the ‘black cab rapist’, offered female passengers champagne spiked with sedatives to celebrate a fake lottery win, before attacking them.

He was handed an indeterminate prison sentence with a minimum term of eight years to be served before the Parole Board could approve his release.

Since he was jailed, police have linked him to more than 100 further rapes and sexual assaults after other alleged victims came forward.

Comments are closed due to ongoing legal proceedings. 

Helplines:

• Dublin Rape Crisis Centre: 1800 77 8888
• Women’s Aid: 1800 341 900

Read: ‘We should have done more’: Victims of ‘black cab rapist’ win case against Met Police

Read: ‘Serious questions’ raised as victims were not told about release of ‘black cab rapist’