Loner rapist who preyed on ladies in his Volvo issued jail replace

WARNING DISTRESSING CONTENT Clive Howard, 57, prowled streets hunting victims before attacking them in his Volvo estate after a 28-year reign of terror across Norfolk and Cambridgeshire

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A rapist dubbed the “Night Stalker” after terrorising lone women during a 28-year reign of terror could be released – merely 10 years since receiving a life sentence.

Twisted Clive Howard, aged 57 at the time, stalked the streets searching for targets before assaulting them in his Volvo estate vehicle. The recluse, who resided with his parents, was labelled “every woman’s living nightmare” by a judge following his attacks on at least six women from 1986 onwards.

Following his life sentence, a further 15 women stepped forward claiming they too had been targeted – with Howard’s own sibling stating “it was terrifying to think of how many women Clive may have attacked”. He received a minimum term of 10 years and three months, though this was subsequently reduced by 12 months as it failed to account for time served on remand.

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An official document now discloses he appeared before a parole hearing last February but was refused release as he remained a threat to public safety. The Parole Board assessment noted he had completed programmes addressing his “violence and sex offending” behaviour, yet “there had been some occasions when he had not obeyed the prison rules and had displayed hostility to staff”, reports the Mirror.

However, there are concerns he will attempt to secure his release within a few months – with insiders condemning the lack of adequate punishment for his “predatory” crimes. An insider revealed: “It won’t be long before he’s referred to the parole board again. It’s a disgrace he could be released so soon after being jailed. His offending was horrific, predatory and targeted, so the thought he could be freed after a little more than a decade is terrifying.”

When approached by the Mirror, Norfolk Police confirmed that the investigation into Howard’s crimes was concluded “a few months after the sentencing”. A spokeswoman added: “We received a number of calls from members of the public following the sentencing of Clive Howard in 2015. Each of these were thoroughly investigated and no evidence of further criminal offences was found.”

Human rights barrister Harriet Wistrich, who spearheaded the legal campaign to keep the infamous black cab rapist John Worboys behind bars, stated: “The level of risk for serious sexual predators is not sufficiently recognised in these types of cases.”

Howard was finally apprehended in 2014 when a victim assisted police in tracking down his Volvo after he assaulted her in a car park. It was later revealed that his reign of terror spanned nearly 30 years across Norfolk and Cambridgeshire.

In 2015, Howard confessed to seven rapes and was sentenced to life imprisonment. Judge Stephen Holt characterised Howard as “every woman’s living nightmare” who conducted a “campaign of sexual offences over many years”.

He told the father of six: “You did severe psychological harm to your victims. There was clearly a significant degree of planning and targeting.”

Howard, who had an 82 year old girlfriend at the time of his arrest, admitted to seven rapes and received a life sentence, but detectives believe he has assaulted at least 15 more victims since 1986. After his sentencing, police reported that more than a dozen women had come forward alleging they were attacked by the rapist.

At the time, Howard’s brother, David, 58, claimed he was the one who tipped off detectives about Howard after learning about the 1986 rape. Revealing he had been disowned by his family for reporting Howard to the police, welder David said: “He’s a serial rapist, I had to go to the police, it was the right thing to do. I was so pleased when he was sentenced I celebrated in the pub.”

Rape Crisis England & Wales works to end child sexual abuse, rape, sexual assault, sexual harassment and all other forms of sexual violence. Call the charity’s support line free 24/7 on 0808 500 2222 or visit 247sexualabusesupport.org.uk