PETER MACDIARMID/LNPTwo of John Worboys’ victims have been given the go ahead to challenge the decision to release him.
The full judicial review hearing will take place in the High Court on 13 March and Worboys will stay in jail until then.
Sir Brian Leveson called him to appear in person at the Royal Courts of Justice due to video link issues.
His victims were unaware Worboys would be present, but Sir Brian said it was important he was there.
Earlier in the hearing, Worboys agreed that the victims and the Mayor of London should be allowed to see the Parole Board’s reasons for ordering his release.
Worboys – who appeared stood in the caged-in dock in courtroom five – was jailed indefinitely in 2009, with a minimum term of eight years, for drugging and sexually assaulting women passengers.
A recent decision by the Parole Board to release Worboys has sparked controversy about whether he should be freed.
Ben Collins, for the Parole Board, told the court: “The board does not wish to take any step to prevent a review of the decision and does not propose to stand in the way.”
Phillippa Kaufmann QC, representing two of Worboys’ victims, said it appeared something had gone “very wrong” and the victims were “concerned not only for themselves but for the wider public and women in particular”.
The victims were also concerned that the decision was “made entirely in secret,” Ms Kaufmann said.
Sir Brian said it was likely that he and Mr Justice Garnham would be “minded to grant permission” for the review, but they have not yet made a final decision.
Reacting to the ruling Sadiq Khan said Worboys’ victims and Londoners would be “relieved”.
“I’m pleased that there will now be an opportunity for thorough scrutiny of this decision by the Parole Board,” he added.
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