A parole hearing for the serial sex attacker known as the Black Cab Rapist, John Worboys, will be held in public this June, a senior judge has ruled. The decision comes despite strong opposition from three of his victims, who fear the increased publicity will cause them further trauma.
Judge Rules Public Interest Outweighs Victims' Concerns
His Honour Peter Rook KC, ruling on behalf of the Chair of the Parole Board, granted an application for the hearing to be made public. The two-day hearing in June will determine if the 68-year-old, now known as John Radford, will be released.
Mr Rook acknowledged the "deep sympathy" he held for the three victims who "strongly oppose" a public hearing. He stated their concern about re-traumatisation was given "significant weight." However, he concluded that the powerful factors distinguishing this case meant the hearing should not remain private.
"I am in no doubt that it is in the public interest that this case should be a public hearing," Mr Rook said.
A Case That Sparked Parole System Reforms
Worboys' case was instrumental in changing the parole system in England and Wales. In 2018, an initial decision to release him after ten years sparked a major public outcry and was subsequently overturned by the High Court.
This controversy directly led to reforms, including the introduction of public parole hearings in 2022. The application for Worboys' hearing to be public was made by Stephen Shute, a Professor of Criminal Law at the University of Sussex.
Professor Shute argued it would be "deeply incongruous" if the Parole Board did not use its new power in the very case that prompted its creation. Of the seven victims registered with the probation service, four supported or were neutral about a public hearing, while three remained strongly opposed.
A History of Serious Sexual Violence
John Worboys was originally jailed indefinitely in 2009, with a minimum term of eight years, for 19 sex attacks on 12 women. He prowled London's West End in a black cab, plying victims with sedative-laced champagne.
Police failures meant he continued offending for years despite similar allegations from ten women between 2002 and 2008. A subsequent High Court civil case found he had committed more than 105 rapes and sexual assaults.
In 2019, he was given two additional life sentences for attacks on four more women, with a six-year minimum term that expired in December 2025. Sentencing him, Justice McGowan stated, "I find you are currently dangerous. I do not know when, if ever, you will cease to be a risk."
A 2019 report warned he was "potentially just as dangerous now as at the point of the first sentence." One victim, known only as DSD, recently said, "He has destroyed so many lives and I still believe he is capable of doing more harm. I fear for other women if he is ever released."
The Parole Board panel will now examine Worboys' history, his progress in prison, professional assessments, and his future plans during the scheduled public hearing in June.
