Fawcett comments on 'black-cab rapist' John Worboys case

5 JANUARY 2018

John Worboys, described as 'one of the UK's most prolific rapists', is to be freed from jail.

The black-cab driver is believed to raped or sexually assaulted over 100 women between 2002 and 2008. The black-cab driver was convicted of 19 offences in 2009, and ordered to serve at least eight years in jail.

After a case hearing last November, the Parole Board approved his release with "stringent" licence conditions, including reporting to probation staff every week and being barred from contacting any of his victims. Some of his victims were not informed of his release.

Fawcett Society Chief Executive Sam Smethers says:

"This is an absolute disgrace. This is our criminal justice system demonstrating a complete disregard for rape victims and for women. It is completely unacceptable that the women he attacked were not notified in advance of his release. How can women trust the system when this is how they are treated?"

The chairman of the Parole Board has apologised "unreservedly" for not informing all the victims, but says the board was "confident" 60-year-old Worboys would not reoffend.

Read all news related to Violence Against Women and Girls here.

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