John Worboys released from jail - If he re-offends it's criminal negligence

Worboys

I've got two daughters, countless nieces and dozens of friends with young daughters. Today I heard that serial rapist John Worboys is being released from jail after ten years. I've heard that he'll be under "tight supervision" a rather clever lawyer chap called Malcolm ("Oh no, I'm not a QC") on the Eddie Nestor show on BBC London. He explained that experts had evaluated the evidence. He explained that you should never say never (why I am really not sure). Worboys was apparently responsible for dozens of rapes and even offended whilst on bail (why was he on bail?).

In law, we have to weigh up the risks and the rights and the wrongs. Like Malcolm, I believe that we lock up too many people and we lock them up for too long. Where I seem to hold a different view from Malcolm is that I think certain types of criminals, multiple rapists being one of them, should only come out of prison in a box (or if I am feeling especially liberal, in a wheelchair for a couple of days in a hospice).

I hate to say it, but I really don't believe that we've read the final chapter in the Worboys story in the press. I hope I am wrong. I sincerely hope that the great and good who make these decisions know more than me and Mr Worboys really does start to lead a monastic existence, refraining from the hobby he clearly so enjoyed.

As far as I am concerned, if he does re-offend, then an act of criminal negligence will have taken place.  In such circumstances, the person who signed the papers to release him should serve a custodial sentence. For serial child molesters, rapists and serial killers, I'd hold those who authorise the release responsible for future behaviour. If the consequences of their decision put them in line for a spell in prison, if it didn't work out, I have a funny feeling they'd be a tad more circumspect.

As it is, the answer to the question "what will happen to the person who authorised the release,  if Worboys rapes my daughter, niece or next door neighbour?" will be "They will most likely feel rather upset".

The really sicjening thing is that there are dozens of women who Worboys abused in the most revolting fashion, who presumably thought they could get on with their lives, having the most frightening flashbacks as we speak. For what purpose? Who benefits from this, apart from a man who deserves nothing and his pack of lawyers, who presumably have earned a handsome fee for doing his bidding.