John Worboys, known as the Black Cab Rapist, is set to attend his upcoming parole hearing in public, despite objections from three of his victims. The notorious serial sex offender is scheduled to have his case reviewed over a two-day period in June as he fights for his release.

The decision to hold the hearing in public was approved by His Honour Peter Rook KC on behalf of the Parole Board Chair. While acknowledging the concerns of the three opposing victims regarding the potential for increased public interest and re-traumatization, Rook emphasized the exceptional circumstances of Worboys’ case as justification for a public hearing.

Rook emphasized the importance of transparency and public interest in the case, stating that a public hearing is in the best interest of the community. Worboys’ previous parole decision in 2018 was overturned following public outcry, leading to reforms in the parole system, including the introduction of public hearings in 2022.

Formerly known as John Radford, Worboys operated as a cab driver in London’s West End, drugging his victims with champagne and committing multiple sexual assaults. Despite initial parole eligibility in 2018, he received additional life sentences for attacks on four more women, with a minimum term that ended in December 2022.

The request for a public hearing was made by Stephen Shute, a Professor of Criminal Law and Criminal Justice at the University of Sussex. Shute argued that it would be inconsistent not to utilize the new powers introduced in 2022, especially in a case that prompted their implementation.

An official review last year determined that a full oral hearing was necessary, considering various aspects of Worboys’ history, progress, and future behavior. Worboys, initially jailed indefinitely in 2009 for multiple sex attacks, was cleared for release by the Parole Board in 2019, a decision later overturned due to undisclosed evidence of further assaults.

Despite objections from victims and ongoing concerns about his potential danger, the legal process continues as Worboys seeks parole under the scrutiny of public interest and judicial review.