BLACK-CAB rapist John Worboys will remain behind bars after the High Court upheld a challenge to his release today.

Two of his victims successfully launched a judicial review of the Parole Board’s controversial decision to release Mr Worboys earlier this year.

Mr Worboys was jailed indefinitely in 2009, with a minimum term of eight years, for drugging and sexually assaulting female passengers.

Police believe Mr Worboys attacked more than 100 women, though he was only convicted in relation to 12 victims.

Sir Brian Leveson upheld the challenge to the “rationality” of the board’s decision “on the basis that it should have undertaken further inquiry into the circumstances of his offending.”

Parole Board chairman Nick Hardwick resigned this morning ahead of the ruling, warning Justice Secretary David Gauke of his “concern about the independence of the board.”

Mr Gauke announced that he had “already decided to abolish Rule 25 … as soon as possible after the Easter recess,” which would allow summaries of Parole Board decisions to be provided to victims.

But lawyers for the women said Mr Gauke “bears some responsibility” for the failings made in the Worboys case.

Phillippa Kaufmann QC said the Ministry of Justice was responsible for putting the dossier of evidence before the Parole Board, adding that it was “disappointing” that Mr Hardwick appeared to have been made a “scapegoat” when there was a “systemic failure.”

One of the women who brought the case, known only as DSD, said although she was pleased with the result, she felt she had been “let down” and that it was “the whole system that had failed.

“I feel like I have been let down at every step,” she said.

“It is wrong that we have been put in this situation. As victims we should have been supported and not having to fight every step of the way in court.”

DSD said she has confidence the Parole Board will now make the right decision, despite getting it “wrong” last time.

Shadow justice minister Richard Burgon said: “Today’s unprecedented ruling highlights deep flaws in the initial Parole Board decision.

“Anything less an independent end-to-end review into the whole handling of the Worboys case will fail to re-establish public confidence in our justice system and will let victims down again.”