How John Worboys’ victims triumphed against their sick attacker in court – and The Sun struck a blow for press freedom

THE appalling blunders that saw black cab rapist John Worboys declared fit for release were laid bare in a devastating High Court judgment today.

A Parole Board panel failed to quiz the scheming monster “to any extent, if at all” and took him at “face value”, the court found.

And despite officials raising fears over the rapist’s ability to routinely con experts, the panel failed to obtain other vital evidence.

That included the trial judge’s sentencing remarks, which told how Worboys had used “a web of deceit” to “ensnare young, intelligent and sensible women”.

Key police reports were also overlooked, as was a civil case judgment which ruled Worboys had claimed at least 105 victims.

The catalogue of errors were revealed in a damning 91-page judgment handed down by London’s High Court today.

Three judges backed a bid by two of the rapist’s victims to block his release, ruling the Parole Board had acted unlawfully by failing to investigate Worboys properly.

Worboys, 60, will now remain in prison pending a new hearing.

And in a huge victory for press freedom, the court also ruled in favour of The Sun’s fight to obtain the reasons for the panel’s decision to clear Warboys in their secret 360-page report.

Details of that dossier emerged for the first time in the judgement, raising questions as to whether Worboys had cynically played the system throughout in his bid for freedom.

Worboys had pleaded not guilty at trial but was convicted in 2009 of 19 “meticulously planned” sexual offences, including one rape and four sexual assaults.

Between October 2006 and February 2008, 12 victims aged between 19 and 33 were plied with alcohol and drugged as they travelled in the back of the fiend’s cab, before being assaulted.

In April that year he was given an indefinite jail term with a minimum eight years and was transferred to maximum security Wakefield jail, West Yorks - dubbed “Monster Mansion”.

Worboys quickly launched a fight against conviction, only to be refused permission to appeal in 2010.

He then applied to the Criminal Cases Review Commission, claiming he had been the victim of a miscarriage of justice.

In June 2013 - four years after his conviction - a prison psychologist noted how Worboys, by now using the name “John Radford”, still “maintained his innocence”.

They also reported his “lack of engagement in any offence-focused programmes” like sex offender courses.

In January 2015, experts recorded there had been “no reduction in risk”.

But on May 18 that year, Worboys spoke to a prison psychologist again.

This time he poured out his heart, telling them he had “always felt guilty” and claiming his victims “had been fair” in their grim accounts of their ordeals.

In an extraordinary confession, the monster said he now felt he had to “give them their due” and “say thank you” by finally admitting his guilt.

Worboys said he had hoped he would get his convictions overturned but accepted that was now unrealistic and wanted to “take responsibility”.

The psychologist noted: “He appeared nervous throughout, on occasion becoming tearful and regularly telling me that he wanted to be honest and wanted to talk about ‘everything’.”

The timing of Worboys’ incredible interview was significant.

It was nine months before his eight-year tariff expired, meaning he was nearing the point of being able to apply for parole.

Yet his sudden U-turn was not enough to convince a first Parole Board hearing he was no longer dangerous.

Responding to the news, a Sun spokesman said: “First and foremost this is a day for the victims, who have fought bravely to take this case to court.

“But it is also a victory for transparency and for the free press in a matter of profound public interest.

"Today’s ruling is a landmark judgement in favour of open justice and will allow the decisions of the Parole Board to be subject to the scrutiny they deserve.
"This case has shown all too clearly the value of that work.”