The release of John Worboys, the black-cab rapist, has been put on hold after a high court battle to keep him behind bars launched by victims passed its first hurdle.
Mr Justice Supperstone granted an urgent application from the women’s lawyers delaying Worboys’ release until a further hearing could be held next month to decide whether the legal challenge should be allowed to go ahead.
The case has been brought by two of Worboys’ victims who are hoping to secure a full judicial review of the Parole Board decision to release the rapist, who has served 10 years, and for full disclosure of the 360-page dossier that led to their recommendation that he was no longer a risk to the public.
The order grants an “interim stay” on Worboys’ release until a further oral permissions hearing is held at the high court in London between 6 February and 8 February. It is understood that the application was not opposed by the Parole Board or the Ministry of Justice.
The women’s lawyer, Harriet Wistrich of Birnberg Peirce, said after learning of the ruling on Friday that it was the last thing the victims wanted to do because they did not want to go through the ordeal again, but they felt a duty to do all they could to keep Worboys off the streets.
The money to pay for the legal challenge on behalf of the two victims was raised through a crowdfunding appeal.
Worboys, who is believed to have drugged and sexually assaulted more than 100 women, was convicted in 2009 on one charge of rape, another of assault by penetration and a further 17 counts of assault. He was given an indeterminate sentence for public protection with a notional sentence of 16 years, with an order that he could apply for release after eight years.
The judicial review application from the two victims is one of several legal challenges in the case. Two newspapers have started proceedings for full disclosure of the reasons for the Parole Board decision and the mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, has also launched a legal action.
