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| John Worboys' victims hope for reversal of decision to release him | John Worboys' victims hope for reversal of decision to release him |
| (about 17 hours later) | |
| Lawyers say victims are ‘pleased’ their concerns are heard amid growing calls at Westminster for urgent review of case | |
| Jessica Elgot, | |
| Sarah Marsh and | |
| Robert Booth | |
| Sun 14 Jan 2018 15.58 GMT | |
| First published on Sun 14 Jan 2018 10.22 GMT | |
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| Victims of the serial sex attacker John Worboys have welcomed a possible reversal of the Parole Board’s decision to release him this month amid growing calls at Westminster for a urgent review of the case. | Victims of the serial sex attacker John Worboys have welcomed a possible reversal of the Parole Board’s decision to release him this month amid growing calls at Westminster for a urgent review of the case. |
| The justice secretary, David Gauke, is seeking legal advice on how to prevent Worboys’ release following a public outcry, Brandon Lewis, the Conservative party chairman, confirmed on Sunday. | The justice secretary, David Gauke, is seeking legal advice on how to prevent Worboys’ release following a public outcry, Brandon Lewis, the Conservative party chairman, confirmed on Sunday. |
| Anna Soubry, a Conservative prominent backbencher, former criminal barrister and friend of one of Worboy’s victims, has also written to Nick Hardwick, the chairman of the Parole Board, claiming that the “statutory process has been breached and the decision to release Worboys is not lawful”. | Anna Soubry, a Conservative prominent backbencher, former criminal barrister and friend of one of Worboy’s victims, has also written to Nick Hardwick, the chairman of the Parole Board, claiming that the “statutory process has been breached and the decision to release Worboys is not lawful”. |
| “Our clients are pleased that their fears and concerns are finally being recognised,” said Richard Scorer, a specialist abuse lawyer who represented 11 of the black-cab driver’s victims. “They feel like they have been ignored, dismissed and deeply let down by the criminal justice system in the way they have been treated in the past week.” | “Our clients are pleased that their fears and concerns are finally being recognised,” said Richard Scorer, a specialist abuse lawyer who represented 11 of the black-cab driver’s victims. “They feel like they have been ignored, dismissed and deeply let down by the criminal justice system in the way they have been treated in the past week.” |
| Gauke revealed on Saturday that he is taking advice on whether to launch a judicial review of the Parole Board’s decision to release Worboys after less than 10 years in jail. | Gauke revealed on Saturday that he is taking advice on whether to launch a judicial review of the Parole Board’s decision to release Worboys after less than 10 years in jail. |
| Scorer said: ”We hope that Mr Gauke’s comments are followed up with action and that he challenges the decision of the Parole Board. We believe this manipulative, dangerous serial rapist is still a danger to the public and releasing him now would put many women at risk.” | Scorer said: ”We hope that Mr Gauke’s comments are followed up with action and that he challenges the decision of the Parole Board. We believe this manipulative, dangerous serial rapist is still a danger to the public and releasing him now would put many women at risk.” |
| A spokesman for the Ministry of Justice said: “The secretary of state is minded to move forward only if there was a reasonable prospect of success.” | A spokesman for the Ministry of Justice said: “The secretary of state is minded to move forward only if there was a reasonable prospect of success.” |
| Worboys was jailed indefinitely in 2009, with a minimum term of eight years, for drugging and sexually assaulting female passengers. He has been linked to 102 complaints, making him one of the country’s most prolific sex offenders. He has been convicted of 19 offences relating to 12 victims. | Worboys was jailed indefinitely in 2009, with a minimum term of eight years, for drugging and sexually assaulting female passengers. He has been linked to 102 complaints, making him one of the country’s most prolific sex offenders. He has been convicted of 19 offences relating to 12 victims. |
| “Obviously if the advice is that we can go forward with judicial review in a positive way then we will look to do that,” said Lewis. “I think every victim out there, every friend and family, everyone who has read about this case, will want to know we are doing everything we can.” | “Obviously if the advice is that we can go forward with judicial review in a positive way then we will look to do that,” said Lewis. “I think every victim out there, every friend and family, everyone who has read about this case, will want to know we are doing everything we can.” |
| Victims and campaigners are understood to have already been looking at options for judicial review. Sarah Green, from the End Violence Against Women Coalition, said victims would “hopefully have some relief at this news”. | Victims and campaigners are understood to have already been looking at options for judicial review. Sarah Green, from the End Violence Against Women Coalition, said victims would “hopefully have some relief at this news”. |
| Soubry, a former business minister, has told Hardwick, to “make full inquiry to ensure that some grave error has not been made”. | Soubry, a former business minister, has told Hardwick, to “make full inquiry to ensure that some grave error has not been made”. |
| In a letter sent on Friday and seen by the Guardian, she raised “very serious concerns about the process by which the board has decided to release John Worboys”. | In a letter sent on Friday and seen by the Guardian, she raised “very serious concerns about the process by which the board has decided to release John Worboys”. |
| Soubry warned that the trauma suffered by at least one of Worboys’ victims had been compounded by her views not being taken into account by the Parole Board. | Soubry warned that the trauma suffered by at least one of Worboys’ victims had been compounded by her views not being taken into account by the Parole Board. |
| According to Soubry, her friend was asked in November last year if she wanted to be kept updated about Worboys’ sentence or whereabouts and she replied that she did. However, she was not told at any time he was to be moved or considered for parole or that there was any change in the sentencing regime. | According to Soubry, her friend was asked in November last year if she wanted to be kept updated about Worboys’ sentence or whereabouts and she replied that she did. However, she was not told at any time he was to be moved or considered for parole or that there was any change in the sentencing regime. |
| The victim did not know he was about to be released until 4 January when a BBC reporter called her for a reaction. Soubry told Hardwick that there had been “a fundamental error in the process leading to the decision to release John Worboys” because at least one of the victims was denied a right to be heard about his release. | The victim did not know he was about to be released until 4 January when a BBC reporter called her for a reaction. Soubry told Hardwick that there had been “a fundamental error in the process leading to the decision to release John Worboys” because at least one of the victims was denied a right to be heard about his release. |
| Zac Goldsmith, the MP for some of the victims, is also understood to have written to Hardwick. | Zac Goldsmith, the MP for some of the victims, is also understood to have written to Hardwick. |
| Harriet Wistrich, a lawyer representing one of the victims from Worboys’ criminal trial and another complainant, said: “My clients are keen for anything to be done to stop the release of Worboys, who they are both convinced remains a danger to women … Such a challenge would be unprecedented but, in this case, at the very least they deserve an explanation and an opportunity to be consulted. They have already been badly let down by the police, which led them to bring a case against the police for their initial abject failure to investigate him.” | Harriet Wistrich, a lawyer representing one of the victims from Worboys’ criminal trial and another complainant, said: “My clients are keen for anything to be done to stop the release of Worboys, who they are both convinced remains a danger to women … Such a challenge would be unprecedented but, in this case, at the very least they deserve an explanation and an opportunity to be consulted. They have already been badly let down by the police, which led them to bring a case against the police for their initial abject failure to investigate him.” |
| Files relating to 83 separate complainants were referred to the CPS during the police investigation into Worboys. Of those, 14 formed part of the trial while the remaining cases did not pass the “evidential test”. | Files relating to 83 separate complainants were referred to the CPS during the police investigation into Worboys. Of those, 14 formed part of the trial while the remaining cases did not pass the “evidential test”. |
| Following Worboys’ conviction, the Metropolitan police received allegations from a further 19 women. | Following Worboys’ conviction, the Metropolitan police received allegations from a further 19 women. |
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