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John Worboys: MPs unite in bid to ban black cab rapist from capital

John Worboys: MPs have united to ban the sex offender from London: PA
John Worboys: MPs have united to ban the sex offender from London: PA

A cross-party coalition of politicians today demanded that black cab rapist John Worboys be kept out of Greater London if he is released from prison.

The group called for the Parole Board to impose the strictest of conditions on the sex attacker if he walks free, saying that he remains a danger to women.

The coalition said the rapist’s release, which could come as soon as next week unless legal action is successful, was a betrayal of the people he attacked.

One victim said: “Worboys must not be allowed in Greater London — the scene of his crimes. He knows where we live. He even wrote some of our addresses down in a notebook.

“So what’s to say now he won’t track us down and attack us again? I don’t want to have to look over my shoulder for the rest of my life. If he’s allowed back in London I will have to move house and will be constantly living in fear.”

Yesterday the Standard revealed that lawyers for two victims had launched legal action against Worboys’ release. The Ministry of Justice is deciding whether to seek its own judicial review in the High Court. The Parole Board is meeting tomorrow to consider victims’ representations before it makes a decision on the terms of the release.

Worboys, now 60, lived in Hackney and preyed on women while working as a black cab driver. He was convicted in 2009 of offences against 12 women and sentenced to a minimum of eight years in jail. Police believe there are more than 100 victims.

Sadiq Khan today said he was “deeply worried and unhappy” that the Parole Board planned to release him in London. The Mayor is expected to send a judicial review pre-action letter, essentially a threat of further legal action against the decision, within days.

“If the Parole Board are standing by their decision to release John Worboys I want their decision properly scrutinised by the courts. It would simply be unacceptable for this man to be released before then,” he said.

Zac Goldsmith, Tory MP for Richmond Park, said: “Worboys shouldn’t be allowed out at all. This is a freak decision by the Parole Board and everything possible needs to be done to reverse it. But in the appalling event that he comes out, it would be utterly perverse, dangerous and cruel to allow him to return to the scene of his many crimes.”

Sir Vince Cable, leader of the Liberal Democrats and MP for Twickenham, added: “I have a constituent who was attacked by Worboys but managed to repel him. He must be kept away from his victims and out of London.”

Wes Streeting, the Labour MP for Ilford North and chairman of the all-party parliamentary group on taxis, said: “The release of John Worboys in this way has been a total betrayal of his victims. He should not be back on London’s streets.”

Bob Neill, Tory chairman of the justice select committee and MP for Bromley and Chislehurst, said: “It would make a lot of sense to change the rules so the Parole Board can give its reasons”.

The Victims Commissioner for London, Claire Waxman, added: “Victims’ views regarding their safety and concerns should be a fundamental right in the Parole Board process and Worboys must be excluded from where his victims live and work and electronically tagged to ensure public and Londoners are protected upon his release.”

Dr Rosena Allin-Khan, Labour MP for Tooting, said: “Our justice system is broken if it allows someone who has committed so many horrific crimes to roam free on London’s streets.” David Lammy, Labour MP for Tottenham, said: “Under no circumstances should Worboys be allowed to set foot in London.”