Parole Board hails courage of victims at John Worboys hearing

The Parole Board has acknowledged the “serious suffering” and “courage” of the victims of the serial sex attacker John Worboys during a high court challenge brought by two women opposing his release from prison.

Ben Collins QC, representing the board, said: “We are acutely conscious that underlying this forensic and analytical debate are stories of real and serious suffering on the part of the victims. I wish to acknowledge that on behalf of the board … and also to acknowledge the courage of the victims in pursuing their claims.”

Lawyers for the two unnamed victims have argued that the Parole Board failed to take into account the full extent of Worboys’ offending and that the decision to free him on licence, even on the evidence considered, was “irrational”.

Worboys, 60, who used to drive a black cab, now goes by the name John Radford. He was jailed indefinitely in 2009 with a minimum term of eight years after being found guilty of 19 offences, including rape, sexual assault and drugging, committed against 12 victims. However, police believe he committed crimes against 105 women between 2002 and 2008, when he was caught.

Source: theguardian