John Worboys, known as the Black Cab Rapist, is set to attend his upcoming parole hearing in a public setting, despite objections from three of his victims. The notorious serial sex offender will have his case reviewed over a two-day period in June as he fights for his release.
A request for the hearing to be conducted in public was approved by His Honour Peter Rook KC, acting on behalf of the Parole Board Chair. While acknowledging the concerns of the opposing victims who fear re-traumatization, Rook emphasized the unique circumstances of Worboys’ case warrant a public hearing to serve the public interest.
The decision to grant Worboys parole in 2018 was reversed following public backlash, leading to reforms in the parole system, including the introduction of public hearings in 2022. Worboys, now 68 and formerly a stripper under the name John Radford, received additional life sentences for assaulting four more women, with a minimum term of six years that ended in December.
Worboys’ modus operandi involved drugging victims with champagne in his cab in London’s West End. Despite multiple reports from women between 2002 and 2008, police errors allowed him to continue his crimes unchecked.
The application for a public hearing was made by Stephen Shute, a Criminal Law and Criminal Justice Professor at the University of Sussex. Shute argued that it would be inconsistent for the Board not to utilize the new power introduced in 2022, particularly in the case that prompted its inception.
A High Court ruling revealed that Worboys committed over 105 rapes and assaults, indicating potential unconvicted offenses to be discussed in the parole proceedings. Following an assessment last year, a full oral hearing was mandated to delve into Worboys’ history, progress, behavior, and future manageability.
In 2009, Worboys received an indefinite jail term with a minimum of eight years for 19 sex attacks. Despite being cleared for release after a decade, evidence of additional assaults emerged, leading to the High Court overturning the decision in 2018. Victims expressed concerns over Worboys’ ongoing danger, with one stating fears of his release posing a risk to other women.
Justice McGowan, in a 2019 sentencing, affirmed Worboys’ continuing danger, highlighting uncertainties about his potential for harm. A report from the same year echoed the sentiment, suggesting Worboys remains a significant threat to society.