Serial rapist John Worboys to stay in jail after Parole Board reverses decision
One of the victims of 'black cab' serial rapist John Worboys says she felt "vindicated" after the Parole Board reversed an earlier ruling should be released.
The board sparked controversy in January by ruling that Worboys was safe to be freed after nearly a decade in prison, prompting a legal challenge from two of his victims.
The Parole Board’s release direction was quashed by the High Court and sided with the legal challenge.
As a result Worboys, 61, was kept behind bars until the case had been reassessed by a new panel.
Worboys had been jailed indefinitely in 2009 with a minimum term of eight years after being convicted of 19 offences, including rape, sexual assault and administering a substance with intent.
Police said more women had come forward after Worboys' sentencing, and that his alleged victims numbered more than 100.
One of the women who brought the judicial review challenge of the Parole Board's original decision said: "We knew this man was a danger to women and we felt compelled to take action. It was the right decision for us to act and thank goodness we did."
Among the documents considered by the panel were a 1,255 page dossier on Worboys and personal statements from seven victims.
Revealing the outcome on Monday, a Parole Board spokeswoman said: “We can confirm that a panel of the Parole Board gave a negative decision in the parole review of John Worboys following an paper hearing in October 2018.
“Under current legislation Mr Worboys will be eligible for a further review within two years.
“The date of the next review will be set by the Ministry of Justice.”
Many of Worboys victims were young women who were on there way back from a night out. The cabbie offered them Champagne spiked with powerful sedatives to celebrate a fictional lottery win, backed up with a carrier bag stuffed full of cash.
The drugs left the women insensible and unable to protect themselves as he attacked them in the back of the vehicle.
Kim Harrison, a specialist abuse lawyer at Slater and Gordon, which represents a number of Worboys' victims, said: "Our clients are deeply relieved by this decision and feel that the right outcome has finally been reached.
"However, it is outrageous that victims had to go to court, and be put through further distress, to receive this outcome.
"We hope this marks the start of a new template of working, providing victims with the respect they deserve and restoring faith within the criminal justice system."