Anger Over Proposed Parole for Black Cab Rapist John Worboys
Man thought to be guilty of over 100 assaults could be free after eight years in jail
Victim support groups have reacted with anger to the announcement that John Worboys is being considered for parole having served less than ten years in jail
The black cab driver was jailed ‘indefinitely’ in 2009 after a string of sexual assaults on young women. He was found guilty of rape and 18 other charges. Following publicity surrounding the case many more women came forward to say they had been attacked by Worboys. In all it is estimated that he carried out over 100 rapes and sexual assault between 2002 and 2008.
John Worboys
Worboys stalked lone women, including some coming out of nightclubs on Kings Road in Chelsea and in the West End. He would tell them that he had just won the lottery and invite them to join him in drinking a glass of champagne. The drink was spiked with a mixture of drugs which left his victims incapable of defending themselves.
When he was sentenced, Justice Penry-Davey said that Worboys would not be released until a parole board decides he is no longer a threat to women.
The decision to consider Worboys for release without informing all of his victims has been questioned by the chairman of the Parole Board Nick Hardwick who said he was very concerned about the way the case had been handled and apologised unreservedly to the women affected.
The Parole Board said, “We can confirm that a three-member panel of the Parole Board has directed the release of Mr John Worboys, following an oral hearing.
“The arrangements for Mr Worboys’ release will be managed by the Ministry of Justice.”
Karen Ingala Smith, chief executive of nia, a non-profit organisation that supports victims of male violence, said, “The police believe that Worboys may have raped more than 100 women, others think this is a conservative estimate.
“He’s served nine years and nine months, that’s just over a month per rape victim. How can we say justice has been served?”
Worboys will be subject to strict licence conditions which will require him to report to a probation officer every week and bar him from any contact with his victims.
January 5, 2018