John Worboys latest: Government abandons plan to challenge release of 'Black Cab' rapist

Justice Secretary makes climbdown after initially suggesting he wanted courts to review decision

The Government will not seek a judicial review of the Parole Board's decision to release black-cab rapist John Worboys from prison, the Justice Secretary has said.

David Gauke said legal experts had informed him it would “not be appropriate” for him to pursue a legal case.

Worboys was jailed in 2009 for drugging and sexually assaulting 12 women and raping one, but is due to be freed after less than 10 years in prison.

The Parole Board decision to approve his release sparked outrage earlier this month, particularly when it emerged that his victims had not been informed of the situation. Worboys was accused of crimes against a further 93 women but prosecutors decided not to take the majority of cases to court.

The Department for Justice confirmed last week that the new Justice Secretary had asked officials to look into the possibility of a judicial review and was “minded to move forward if there is a reasonable prospect of success”.

However, Mr Gauke told MPs on Friday that he would not be pursuing a case.

Admitting the decision to release Worboys was “deeply concerning” to victims, MPs and the public, the Justice Secretary said: “I took the step of seeking legal advice from specialist leading counsel to establish whether there were grounds to challenge this decision in the courts and therefore to ask the courts to stop the release of Worboys before the decision was reconsidered.

“Having taking considered and expert legal advice, I have decided that it would not be appropriate for me as Secretary of State to proceed with such a case.”

Mr Gauke said he “cannot go further and expose details of the legal advice I have been given” but added: ”I know this will disappoint the victims in this case and members of this House given the crimes for which he has been convicted.

“On a personal level, candidly I share those concerns.”

He said Worboys will not be released until his license conditions have been finalised and representations from his victims considered.

It comes days after the head of the Parole Board warned politicians not to interfere in its decisions.

Professor Nick Hardwick said: “We should be open to legal challenge, but I hope people will agree that it is right that we resist political interference in our decisions.

“Like any court, we must make independent decisions in accordance with the law and on the basis of evidence. It would be a bad day for us all if people’s rightful abhorrence of Worboys’ crimes or concern about a Parole Board decision allowed these basic principles of justice to be overturned.”

A judicial review could still be brought in relation to the decision to free Worboys. Some of his victims are seeking a challenge, and Sadiq Khan, the Mayor of London, has also said he is considering a case.

Following Mr Gauke’s announcement, Mr Khan said: “The decision by the Parole Board to release John Worboys is astonishing and it is extremely disappointing that the Government is accepting this without challenge. I won’t. I am deeply concerned and unhappy about the prospect of John Worboys' impending release.

He added: “Yesterday I informed the Chairman of the Parole Board for England and Wales that I have instructed leading counsel on a possible judicial review of their decision to release John Worboys.”

The Parole Board has said it is “confident correct procedures were followed” when making the decision was made.