John Worboys: Parole reasoning 'should be public'

The chair of the House of Commons Home Affairs Committee Yvette Cooper has called on the Parole Board to publish its reasons for deciding to release serial sex attacker John Worboys. Former black-cab driver Worboys is believed to have carried out more than 100 rapes and sexual assaults on women in London between 2002 and 2008. Victims' groups and charities have condemned the decision to free him. Labour MP Ms Cooper said the ruling must be scrutinised before his release.

Worboys was convicted in 2009 of 19 charges of drugging and sexually assaulting 12 women passengers and one charge of rape. He was ordered to serve at least eight years in jail but the following year the Met Police said other women had come forward and that the suspected total number of his victims exceeded 100. When he is released from prison later this month, aged 60, he will have spent a decade in custody, including a period on remand. However, the Parole Board's ruling has sparked outrage. Ms Cooper said: "Given the seriousness of this case, the Parole Board should publish their reasons immediately so both the decision and the process can be scrutinised before this man is released. "We also need to know what information and support was given to all the victims before this decision was taken." Black cab rapist: "I screamed at him to get off me"
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The charity Rape Crisis described Worboys' period of incarceration as "woefully short" for such a "dangerous and manipulative perpetrator". Sarah Green, from the End Violence Against Women Coalition, said the decision "beggars belief" and "is likely to be the product of a justice system and a society that cannot, and perhaps will not, deal with rape". Worboys, a former stripper from Rotherhithe, south-east London, targeted young women who had been drinking in the West End of London

After deceiving them with a ruse that he had won the lottery, he produced champagne and a carrier bag stuffed with cash, before inviting them to celebrate with him. But the alcohol was laced with powerful sedatives, and once the drugs had taken hold he attacked the women in the back of his cab.
Media captionSolicitor: My client is "absolutely horrified" at the news that Worboys will be released
At his sentencing, during which he was described as a "repetitive predatory sexual offender", Worboys was told he would not be released until parole officials were convinced he did not pose a threat to women. After a hearing about his case in November, the Parole Board decided to approve his release with "stringent" licence conditions. The period on licence lasts for at least 10 years and he can be sent back to jail if he breaches the conditions.

Worboys will also have to report to probation staff every week and is barred from contacting any of his victims. In a statement on Thursday 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."

source; www.bbc.com