One among Britain’s worst rapists, who’s feared to have attacked 90 girls, typically at knife-point, might be launched from jail in weeks.
Kevin Lakeman, 63, launched a 12-year ‘reign of terror’ towards girls throughout Sunderland.
He was jailed for all times in 1995 and ordered to serve a minimal of 12 years however was warned he would keep in jail so long as he was a hazard to the general public.
Lakeman was convicted of three rapes and an tried rape whereas underneath the affect of drink and medicines. He all the time focused lone girls who he didn’t know at evening.
Individually, eight allegations of rape and 4 of tried rape had been the themes of costs, which had been ordered to be left on the file
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He held a knife towards the victims however that was solely a fraction of his offending, with round 90 girls making allegations towards him.
One sufferer was dragged to 3 separate places throughout Sunderland over a two-year interval.
Now he’s up for parole, and victims are campaigning for his listening to to be held in public. This was rejected by the parole board.
His case will likely be assessed by a panel of specialists in non-public, who will both resolve to launch him or preserve him in jail.
They may assess experiences on progress made in jail and what danger they deem him to pose to the general public if he was to be launched.
His lawyer argued {that a} public listening to might put his life and security in danger.
He was launched in January 2019 on licence, however that was revoked and he returned to jail in March 2019 after breaching situations repeatedly.
Talking on the time, she added: ‘Probation are attempting to inform me to not fear, however what do I do?
‘There’s additionally nothing to bodily cease him from getting into the realm, and now he is aware of the place I’m. I’m terrified he might assault me once more.
‘What has he obtained to lose. If he wished to get out of jail and are available searching for me, what has he obtained to lose?’
Police this 12 months performed a assessment of historic allegations which had been made.
They confirmed that the choice to not proceed with sure costs in 1995 had been reviewed and absolutely defined. No additional motion will likely be taken towards these allegations.
His lawyer mentioned there have been risks on holding the listening to in public. He mentioned: ‘Emotional and bodily abuse or assault from others, for instance from vigilante teams as a result of nature of the offending profile and media consideration surrounding the case.
‘Earlier considerations in relation to self-harm, the character of the danger contains self-harm and suicide which might be triggered by emotions of hopelessness, low temper, unfavorable emotions in the direction of himself and fears for his security.’
The parole board chair mentioned: ‘Moreover if there’s a public listening to there’s sure to be an elevated danger of some members of the general public (not, in fact both of the Candidates or their households) taking it upon themselves to kill or inflict severe hurt on Mr Lakeman.
‘This may occur in jail (regardless of one of the best efforts of the workers to forestall such an prevalence) or locally if Mr Lakeman’s whereabouts there have been to change into identified.’
Parole Board hearings began to be held in public in December 2021. Notable public hearings embrace Charles Bronson and Stephen Lawrence assassin David Norris.
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