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, aged 63, abruptly left his hearing before its conclusion, informing the panel of his decision to withdraw his request for release or transfer to an open facility. A new parole board report stated that the panel deemed it unsafe for public protection to release him at this time.
The report highlighted concerns over unexplored risks, particularly related to physical and sexual violence towards intimate partners, based on Lakeman’s testimony about his past relationships. Lakeman, hailing from Sunderland, Tyne and Wear, received a life sentence in 1995 for three rapes and an attempted rape, with a minimum term of 12 years, all committed at night and at knifepoint.
Originally facing 30 sex offense charges, Lakeman was eventually convicted of two rapes and one attempted rape, leading to four life sentences. Despite being released on parole in January 2019, he was re-incarcerated two months later for non-compliance with his parole conditions and disclosures during polygraph testing.
During the recent parole board session, Lakeman admitted responsibility for his prior convictions but continued to deny other accusations against him. The panel acknowledged the existence of unproven allegations from the past, factoring them into their risk assessment.
Police decided against reopening a case against Lakeman after a review earlier this year, stating that no further action would be taken on the remaining charges.