Parole chief admits rapist John Worboys COULD pose risk

Black cab rapist John Worboys, 60, (pictured in a police mugshot) could still pose a risk to the public, the chairman of the Parole Board has admitted

The chairman of the Parole Board has conceded there is a risk ‘black cab rapist’ John Warboys could attack women again when he is released at the end of the month.

Professor Nick Hardwick defended the board’s decision to release Worboys, but said he ‘could not pretend risk could be eliminated completely’. 

Official figures show there were 86 serious violent or sexual offences – such as murder, rape and child abuse – committed by criminals on parole between 2013 and 2016. 

The Parole Board said fewer than one percent of criminals released on parole committed such serious offences. 

Professor Harwick said last night: ‘I would not be honest if I pretended risk could be eliminated completely.

‘Parole Board members need to be confident a prisoner will not reoffend – but they cannot be certain. 

‘If certainty is required that needs to be reflected in the length of the original sentence.’ 

The chairman insisted the law governing his panel’s decision was ‘clear’ and had been fully taken into consideration. 

‘The law governing the Parole Board’s decisions is quite clear. We have to make decisions about future risk,’ he said.

‘We cannot re-assess the prisoner’s guilt or innocence or whether the original sentence was appropriate even if we would like to do so.

‘The decision about future risk will be informed both by evidence of how the prisoner has changed and the robustness of plans to manage him or her in the community.’

Professor Harwick (pictured in an undated handout photo) said  last night: 'I would not be honest if I pretended risk could be eliminated completely

Professor Harwick (pictured in an undated handout photo) said last night: ‘I would not be honest if I pretended risk could be eliminated completely

Mr Hardwick last night criticised ministers for challenging the Parole Board’s decision to release Worboys, saying the move could threaten the independence of the justice system.

Justice Secretary David Gauke has asked for legal advice on whether the decision to free one of Britain’s most notorious sex offenders can be contested in a judicial review.

Worboys – jailed in 2009 with a minimum term of eight years – was convicted of offences against 12 victims but has been linked to more than 100 attacks.

The ex-London cab driver, 60, is set to walk free this month after the Parole Board ruled he was no longer a threat – sparking outrage from victims. 

Professor Hardwick said: ‘We should be open to legal challenge, but I hope when people think about it, they will agree it is right we resist political interference in our decisions.’

He also blamed the probation service over the failure to alert victims to Worboys’ release. The Ministry of Justice said Mr Gauke had been clear that the Parole Board should remain independent. 

Worboys (pictured being led into Sutton Magistrates Court in 2009) was jailed indefinitely, with the judge setting a minimum term of eight years

Worboys (pictured being led into Sutton Magistrates Court in 2009) was jailed indefinitely, with the judge setting a minimum term of eight years

In a staunch defence of the organisation, he also squarely blamed the Government for failing to alert victims of the 60-year-old’s impending freedom and called for an independent inquiry. 

Justice Secretary David Gauke has taken the highly unusual step of asking for legal advice on whether the decision to free one of Britain’s most notorious sex offenders can be contested in a judicial review. 

Worboys was jailed indefinitely in 2009, with the judge setting a minimum term of eight years. He was convicted of 19 offences against 12 victims but the prolific offender has been linked to more than 100 attacks. 

In a rare intervention, Professor Hardwick said he was confident that any judicial review would uphold the decision to approve Worboys’ release.

If a judge found the Parole Board did not follow the correct process or reached its decision on the wrong basis, the move could be quashed and the serial sex attacker would have to make a fresh application for parole. 

Professor Hardwick expressed sympathy for the victims and said the licence conditions imposed could be tightened in response to concerns. He said it was ‘not right’ that it was forbidden by law to disclose details of the case – meaning the decision remains shrouded in secrecy.

But said responsibility for contacting victims ultimately lay with the Justice Secretary because the Parole Board had no role in liaising with victims.

He said the task was supposed to be performed by the ‘Victim Contact Service’ run by the National Probation Service, which is answerable to the Ministry of Justice.

It is understood five of Worboys victims said they wanted to be informed. Only one took up the offer of providing a statement for his parole hearing in November. Professor Hardwick said then Justice Secretary was represented ‘at our request’.

Justice Secretary David Gauke (pictured arriving at No10 on January 16) has asked for legal advice on whether the decision to free one of Britain's most notorious sex offenders can be contested in a judicial review

Justice Secretary David Gauke (pictured arriving at No10 on January 16) has asked for legal advice on whether the decision to free one of Britain’s most notorious sex offenders can be contested in a judicial review

His hearing was held by a three-person panel, considered a 363-page dossier and heard evidence from nine psychologists and prison and probation staff, while Worboys himself was questioned ‘in detail’.

Worboys drugged his victims with spiked champagne before attacking them in his cab. Since being jailed, he is believed to have changed his name by deed poll to John Radford, in tribute to the footballer who played for Arsenal from 1964 to 1976.

It emerged Worboys was deemed too dangerous to be move to an open prison just two years before he was cleared for release.

A Parole Board hearing into his case in September 2015 ruled he was not safe and should be kept in a high security Category A prison.

Last night one victim – who wishes to remain anonymous – said: ‘The Parole Board have massive questions to answer. I find it incredibly hard to believe that someone that could be deemed too dangerous for open prison just two years ago, can now be considered safe to roam the streets as he pleases.

‘I am terrified he will attack me again and have no reason to believe he won’t.’

It also been confirmed that Worboys had been challenging his convictions as recently as 2015.

He had applied to the Criminal Cases Review Commission in April 2013 claiming he had been wrongfully convicted.

The CCRC began assessing his application until Worboys withdrew it in May 2015, four months before his request for a transfer to an open prison was dealt with.

A Ministry of Justice spokesman said: ‘The Secretary of State has commissioned advice on the possibility of a Judicial Review and will consider this carefully when it is received – he is minded only to proceed if there is a reasonable prospect of success.

‘He told Parliament just last week that he is absolutely clear the Parole Board should remain an independent body.’  



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