John Worboys (pictured) drugged and raped 12 women and raped one, but police believe he could have attacked up to 102 victims
The Justice Secretary today said he would not personally launch a judicial review into the Parole Board decision to release John Worboys, meaning the ‘black cab rapist’ could be freed within weeks.
David Gauke said he had received legal advice that suggested a case would not be successful. He insisted he could not justify the Government launching a case with no chance of winning.
Despite the advice, the Justice Secretary told MPs he ‘fully supports’ the right of someone else to bring a judicial review.
He admitted: ‘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.’
Worboys is due to be released from prison less than 10 years after he was jailed for drugging and sexually assaulting 12 women and raping one.
Police have said they believe he could have attacked up to 102 victims while lawyers believe there were 105.
London Mayor Sadiq Khan condemned the decision and said he would launch a judicial review himself if the Government was ‘accepting Worboys release without challenge’.
A group of victims is also crowdfunding for their own case.
Mr Gauke explored a case after he was told by law experts, including former ministers, that there were two possible grounds for a court challenge.
Despite his decision not to contest the Parole Board decision, Mr Gauke insisted Worboys ‘will not be released’ from jail until his licence conditions have been set in consultation with victims.
There have been calls for the conditions to include a ban Worboys from entering London on the grounds he knows where some of his victims live.
Justice Secretary David Gauke (pictured in the Commons today) said he would not seek a judicial review of the decision of the Parole Board to release John Worboys
Mr Gauke admitted to MPs he shared concerns about the release of Worboys but still would not launch a judicial review on behalf of the government
Mr Gauke also announced he was broadening his review of parole board decisions in light of the case.
He said: ‘I have taken a close personal interest in this case since assuming office as Secretary of State for Justice.
Separately, Sadiq Khan is exploring his own judicial review and has sent a ‘pre-action protocol’ letter to Parole Board chairman Nick Hardwick
‘I believe it is important that all the victims have clarity as soon as possible which is why I am before the House today.
‘I can reassure the House and the public that Worboys will not be released until his licence conditions have been finalised.’
Labour Shadow Justice minister Imran Hussain warned ‘many will be disappointed’ by the decision, which ‘makes the need for changes in the Parole Board even more pressing.’
Earlier this week, a coalition of Worboys’ victims set up a crowdfunding page to raise funds to cover the legal fees for their own judicial review.
The campaign has already collected more than £18,000 for the cause in just two days.
If any judicial review declares the Parole Board decision to release Worboys was unlawful, it would lead to a new hearing to review the original decision.
A coalition of Worboys’ victims has set up a crowdfunding page (pictured today with the total at more than £18,000) to raise funds to cover the legal fees for their own judicial review
Mr Gauke refused to comment on what the legal advice he received had said in detail, insisting he did not want to prejudice any future case.
Lawyers representing Worboys’ victims have already written a letter to the Parole Board calling for it to reconsider his case.
Mr Khan said: ‘Londoners’ safety is my number one priority – and I am deeply worried and unhappy that the Parole Board plan to release John Worboys onto the streets of our city where many of his victims live and work.
‘If the Parole Board are standing by their decision to release John Worboys I want their decision properly scrutinised by the courts. It would simply be unacceptable for this man to be released before then.
‘That’s why I have written to the Parole Board, demanding that John Worboys must not be released until proper independent judicial scrutiny of the decision has taken place.
‘The public wants to be reassured the decision by the Parole Board was taken properly, and that his victims and other Londoners will receive the protection they deserve.
‘It’s in the interests of the victims and the wider public that this information is published, and that those in positions of power and responsibility are doing everything they can to keep the public safe.’
Police found a rape kit in the back of Worboys’ taxi which including sleeping tablets, condoms and an ashtray he used to crush the drugs (top right)
Richard Scorer, a specialist abuse lawyer at Slater and Gordon which previously represented 11 of Worboys’ victims in a civil case, said: ‘Although our clients are disappointed that the government has chosen not to participate in a judicial review of this decision, the victim judicial review is going forward and we urge everyone to support it and support the crowdfunding efforts.
‘It is crucial that the decision to release this manipulative, calculating and dangerous man can be considered by the courts as soon as possible.
‘It is also imperative that the failure to prosecute more cases against Worboys is re-examined.’
Worboys owns a £300,000 flat in Poole, Dorset, where he previously starred in amateur porn films with a friend.
The tenants, a man and and his teenage daughter, left Pine Park Mansions after last week discovering that Worboys owned the flat.
The Parole Board, chaired by Nick Hardwick (pictured), has warned against ‘political interference’ in decisions to release prisoners amid a storm over Worboys release
It was also revealed that he pocketed at least £160,00 from selling property just months after he was jailed.
‘It’s disgusting that after conning the justice system into letting him walk he is able to cling on to so many of his assets,’ a source told The Sunday Mirror.
‘People will believe Worboys is going to be released and will live in a hovel.’
His flat is in Poole — just miles away from neighbouring Bournemouth, where he is feared to have targeted at least four women while working as a cabbie.
Worboys is believed to have owned a number of properties across London and had more than £80,000 in two bank accounts when he was jailed.
‘That’s not the case at all. The reality is he’s a wealthy man who will live in the lap of luxury — just miles from his alleged victims. Many of them are terrified at the fact he is set to return.’
Ministers believe the decision to set Worboys free could be unlawful because victims had not been consulted after they were assured he would ‘not be coming out for a long time’.
Park Pine Mansions, in Poole, Dorset. The tenants of Worboys’ flat – a man and his teenage daughter – left last week after finding out about the property’s owner
The 60-year-old was assessed to no longer be a danger to the public by a panel of three people, who approved his released on licence with 14 secret restrictions.
However, his victims – who were attacked between 2002 and 2008 – only found out though the media.
It comes as a letter by Parole Board chief executive Martin Jones conceded that victims and the public would ‘find it impossible’ to understand the decision to release Worboys without a full explanation.
Fresh questions have been raised about the decision amid reports that he was previously prevented from moving to an open prison. The request was declined in November 2016, according to the Sunday Express.
Worboys is understood to have changed his name to John Radford (pictured), after the legendary Arsenal centre-forward