A notorious predator once identified as the most dangerous sex offender in Britain has been refused release from prison by the parole board.
Kevin Lakeman, 63, abruptly left his hearing before its conclusion, informing the panel that he no longer desired to be considered for release or a transfer to an open penitentiary. A new parole board report highlighted concerns about public safety if Lakeman were to be released at this time.
The report emphasized that the panel disagreed with the assessments presented and identified a critical area of risk that needed further exploration and understanding, potentially requiring treatment. Consequently, the panel recommended that any necessary interventions should occur within a closed prison setting rather than transferring Lakeman to an open facility.
Lakeman, hailing from Sunderland, Tyne and Wear, received a life sentence in April 1995 for three rapes and an attempted rape, with a minimum term of 12 years. His convictions, all involving incidents at night and under threat of a knife, spanned from 1982 to 1994.
Following the emergence of 90 additional potential victims, Lakeman was recognized as Britain’s most prolific sex offender at that time, leading to a comprehensive review of his case. Despite being initially charged with a record 30 sex offenses, he was ultimately found guilty of two rapes and one attempted rape, resulting in four life sentences and a 24-year prison term.
Despite being released on parole in January 2019, Lakeman was reincarcerated just two months later due to revelations during polygraph testing and non-compliance with his release conditions. Subsequent police reviews in 2018 and 2019 identified around 30 potential charges against him.
During his recent parole board hearing, Lakeman admitted responsibility for his previous convictions while denying other allegations raised against him. The panel acknowledged the presence of unproven allegations and considered them in their assessment of Lakeman’s case, noting similarities to the confirmed offenses.
In a recent development, the police decided not to reopen a case against Lakeman after reviewing archived files and consulting with forensic experts, concluding that no further action would be taken regarding the remaining charges.
