John Worboys appeal - as it happened: High Court reverses decision to release 'black cab rapist'

Victory has 'brought huge relief', victim says

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

Victims of black cab rapist John Worboys have won their legal challenge against a decision to release him from prison.

A ruling in the landmark case was given by three judges at the High Court in London, who heard evidence over two days earlier this month.

Lawyers for two of Worboys’ victims had argued that the Parole Board’s decision to release the 60-year-old serial sex attacker was “irrational”, and should be overturned.

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The Parole Board must reconsider, judges ruled on Tuesday morning – just minutes after the body’s chairman resigned.

Officials should have held further inquiry into Worboys’ offending and his “overall credibility and reliability”, Sir Brian Leveson said.

He also said the board’s Rule 25, which currently bars disclosure of information about its decisions, was incompatible with the principle of open justice.

Worboys, who now goes by the name Radford, was jailed indefinitely in 2009 with a minimum term of eight years after being found guilty of 19 offences, including rape, sexual assault and drugging, committed against 12 victims.

He became known as the black cab rapist after attacking victims in his hackney carriage.

Police believe he committed crimes against 105 women between 2002 and 2008, when he was caught.

The two victims who brought the case believe something went “badly wrong” with the Parole Board’s decision to free him.

They said the Parole Board should have taken into account “critical evidence” of the “wider allegations” against Worboys.

The judges heard that Worboys, who has served 10 years behind bars, including remand time, has denied committing any offences other than those for which he was convicted.

The Parole Board argued that its decision was “lawful and and rational” and was based on appropriate evidence.

London’s Mayor Sadiq Khan and The Sun newspaper also took part in the legal action.

Key Points

• High Court judges say Parole Board must look again at decision
• Parole Board overlooked 'critical evidence', victims claim
• Worboys' representative had urged judges not to 'take his freedom away'
• Officials ought to have considered rapist's 'overall credibility'

[28 March 2018 11:41 · Lizzie Dearden]

A psychologist who gave evidence to the court stood by her assessment in court, saying that even if someone is dishonest and hasn't accepted full responsibility, you can't decide that they will offend again.

But Ms Kaufmann said the Parole Board found he was open and honest and had gained insight into his crimes: "There is a lot of misunderstanding here about what you can take into account legally."

[28 March 2018 11:43 · Lizzie Dearden]

Ms Wistrich said the Justice Secretary "looks as though he has demanded a scapegoat, but this isn't a case of everyone resigning, it's about the MoJ putting adequate resources into the justice system."

She called for Mr Gauke to look properly at lessons learned, rather than "give a token head" and walk away.

[28 March 2018 11:44 · Lizzie Dearden]

The press conference is now drawing to a close and our live coverage will be ending shortly.