BLACK cab serial rapist John Worboys in fresh parole bid despite being subject to a new police investigation into an alleged sex attack in the 1990s

BLACK cab serial rapist John Worboys could be considered for release again by the end of the year despite being subject to a new police investigation into an alleged sex attack in the 1990s.

A minimum six year jail term he received for sex attacks on four of his victims is due to end next month<December>and the Parole Board confirmed that an initial assessment into whether Worboys can have a fresh parole hearing to assess if he can be released is underway.

But, it comes as Lancashire Police continues to investigate an alleged rape more than 25 years ago in Blackpool, when Worboys, one of Britain's worst serial sex attackers, worked in the area as a male stripper.

The predator, 68, who now calls himself John Radford, received an indefinite jail sentence for public protection, with a minimum term of eight years in 2009, after being found guilty of 19 sex offences against 12 women between 2006 and 2008.

The sentencing judge branded him a "dangerous" and a "continuing risk".

He is understood to still be imprisoned in HMP Wakefield - dubbed "Monster Mansion" due to the high number of serial killers and sex offenders there.

He used London's West End as a stalking ground, in his cab, giving victims sedative-laced champagne, claiming to have come into some money.

Met Police blunders in the early days meant he was able to continue offending due to failings after ten women came forward with similar allegations between 2002 and 2008.

The Parole Board controversially ordered his release in 2018, which was overturned by the High Court, following a huge public and political backlash, which saw the board's then chairman Nick Hardwick resign.

High Court judges said among the reasons for blocking parole were his "sense of sexual entitlement" and a "need to control women."

The fallout led the the opening up of the parole system with summaries of the reasons why prisoners are released or not, or moved to open priosn conditions, now released.

More victims came forward after the scandal and he was further sentenced in December 2019 to life with a minimum term of six years at the Old Bailey after he admitted spiking the drinks of four other women with the intention of sexually assaulting them.

Worboys, from Enfield, north London, was dubbed the black cab rapist after selecting victims across London as he worked in his Hackney carriage.

As his minimum term comes to an end next month, the Parole Board said it is assessing if he will be given an oral hearing during which lawyers could argue for his release.

A Parole Board spokesperson said: "John Worboys is at the initial assessment stage, so no decision has been made or an oral hearing directed yet."

Lancashire Police confirmed it is still investigating the alleged rape in Blackpool, but that there had been no developments since it was announced in August.

A spokesman said at the time: "We received a report of rape which was reported to have happened in the late 1990s in Blackpool.

"An investigation was launched, and our enquiries are ongoing.

"No one has been arrested at this stage."

Police have previously said he may have committed offences against more than 100 women, but he was convicted in connection with 16.

After his latest sentence in 2019, one of the earlier victims, named only as DSD, said: "I would love to take comfort in the life sentence but after the last court case I keep thinking about this monster being eligible for parole in six years - and we all know what happened last time. 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."

A Parole Board spokesperson said: "Parole Board decisions are solely focused on what risk a prisoner could represent to the public if released and whether that risk is manageable in the community. A panel will carefully examine a huge range of evidence, including details of the original crime, and any evidence of behaviour change, as well as explore the harm done and impact the crime has had on the victims."