London cabbie rapist to be freed following ‘woefully short’ prison term

By Aine Fox4th January 2018News EnglandLondon, News England, Rape, Sexual Abuse

London cabbie rapist John Worboys is to be released from prison.

The former stripper and adult film star was jailed indefinitely in 2009, with a minimum term of eight years for drugging and sexually assaulting women passengers.

He was found guilty of assaulting 12 women during an 18-month reign of terror in the capital, but police said more women had come forward, and that his alleged victims numbered more than 100.

At his sentencing Worboys was told he would not be released until parole officials were convinced he did not pose a threat to women.

In a statement the Parole Board said: “We can confirm that a three member panel of the Parole Board has directed the release of Mr John Worboys, following an oral hearing.

“The arrangements for Mr Worboys’ release will be managed by the Ministry of Justice.”

Many of his victims were young women who had been drinking in trendy nightspots in the West End and Chelsea.

The cabbie offered them Champagne spiked with powerful sedatives to celebrate a fictional lottery win, backed up with a carrier bag stuffed full of cash.

The drugs left the women insensible and unable to protect themselves as he pounced on them in the back of the vehicle.

According to a Government website an indeterminate sentence has no fixed length and is given if a court thinks an offender is a danger to the public.

Yvonne Traynor, CEO of Rape Crisis South London, described the time Worboys spent in prison as “woefully short”.

She said: “It feels far too soon for this dangerous and manipulative perpetrator to be released into the public having served this woefully short time in prison.

“He may be free to live amongst us but the women he raped will never be totally free from his despicable actions.”