Detectives in Lancashire have dropped a probe into one of Britain’s worst serial sex offenders over a historic allegation of rape, paving the way for him to walk free
Black cab rapist John Worboys has been cleared of a historic rape claim – sparking fears he will soon be released from prison.
Detectives launched a new investigation relating to an attack alleged to have happened in Blackpool, Lancs, when he was working as a stripper 25 years ago. But after months of investigating claims made by a woman she was attacked in the seaside town during the 1990s, police have dropped the case.
It comes as Parole Board chiefs are set to analyse his case and could soon release him after 16 years in jail, despite fears his true offending saw him attack more than 100 women. Former friend and ex-performer Dave Hanson was interviewed by detectives over the Blackpool claim and visited him at his home 306 miles away in Lowestoft, Suffolk.
He said: “I fear that decision means the last chance to properly nail Worboys for his full offending has gone. I fear it paves the way for his release. It’s horrific. I am sure there are dozens and dozens of more victims. He’s only in his late 60s. I fear now they will have to release him.
“If he is given freedom, he will strike again and again. He will never stop. You can’t rehabilitate a monster like that. It’s very disturbing. I have spoken out against him, so I think he will come after me. He is capable of anything. He will stop at nothing.”
Worboys is serving two life sentences after already being jailed in 2009 for assaults on 12 women in London. But the fresh investigation by Lancashire Police sparked fears his offending was far wider geographically than first feared. When asked for an update on the case, a spokesperson for Lancashire Police said: “The investigation has now been closed.”
Police believe Worboy’s his reign of terror saw him attack more than 100 women as he plied them with alcohol laced with sedatives in the back of his taxi. But the predatory cabbie, now 68, can now prepare a fresh bid for freedom after 16 years in jail. Worboys, one of Britain’s worst serial sex attackers, could walk free at the end of the year despite his sentencing judge describing the fiend as a “dangerous” and a “continuing risk”.
A decision to release Worboys in 2018 was reversed by the Parole Board after widespread public outcry which prompted other victims to come forward. Speaking earlier this year, Worboy’s former friend Mr Hanson said: “My message to anybody who was attacked by him or knows anything about him, please contact the police.
“I want to make sure he is never released from prison. He has ruined so many lives and should never be allowed the chance for freedom. He is cunning and will do anything to be released. He will lie and lie and lie. Anything else that can be brought against him should be thoroughly pursued for all it is worth.”
Mr Hanson said Worboys had previously confided in him that he had given women date-rape drugs, years before a string of attacks he was jailed for became known. He said Worboys even urged him to try drugging women himself with GHB, saying chillingly: “They won’t even know, they’ll do whatever you want. I’m telling you, it works.”
He says the first time Worboys mentioned the date rape drug GHB was in 1998, when both men were booked for a function at the Dorchester Hotel in London, with both male and female strippers. Worboys, who is now known as John Radford, stalked London’s West End in a cab, giving his victims sedative-laced champagne.
He would invent lies about winning the lottery and asked them to help him celebrate his winnings in order to make himself appear interesting, the court heard. Worboys continued offending due to a string of police errors after 10 women reported very similar allegations between 2002 and 2008.
In 2009, he was jailed indefinitely, with a minimum of eight years for 19 sex attacks on 12 women. He was cleared for release by the Parole Board after 10 years without his victims being informed. Officials had failed to take into account evidence he had attacked 105 women.
The decision was overturned by the High Court in March 2018 after two victims challenged it. Worboys was handed two additional life sentences in December 2019 when new victims came forward, as a judge found he posed an ongoing danger to women.
Known only as DSD, one victim blasted the six-year minimum term, saying: “He has destroyed so many lives and I still believe he is capable of doing more harm. I fear for other women if he is ever released.” Sentencing him in 2019, Justice McGowan said: “I find you are currently dangerous. I do not know when, if ever, you will cease to be a risk.”
A 2019 report said: “He is potentially just as dangerous now as at the point of the first sentence.”
