updateThe Parole Board failed to consider "critical evidence" against rapist John Worboys before approving his prison release, a lawyer for two of his victims has told the High Court.
The lawyer said the evidence related to "wider allegations" of sexual attacks.
Police believe that Worboys - jailed in 2009 for assaults on 12 women in London - had more than 100 victims.
Lawyer Phillippa Kaufmann QC said the board was wrong to decide Worboys took "full responsibility" for his crimes.
'Exceptional step'
Worboys is thought to have carried out more than 100 rapes and sexual assaults on women in the capital between 2002 and 2008.
The 60-year-old, who
has changed his name to
John Radford, is watching the trial via video link from prison.
The court heard he denies any allegation other than the offences he was convicted of.
Legal papers submitted to the High Court show that as recently as September last year, the prison authorities believed he posed such a risk that he needed to remain in a Category A prison.Three months later the Parole Board decided that he should be let out with stringent licence conditions, without having been assessed at a less secure prison.
Ms Kaufmann said this "highly exceptional step" was "in the face of opposition" from senior prison managers, prison psychologists, the probation service and the justice secretary.
Ms Kaufmann said the claims of Worboys' further crimes "completely undermined" the board's decision.
She told the court: "It is obvious, absolutely obvious, that this evidence of wider offending had a central bearing on all of those conclusions that formed the basis of the Parole Board's conclusion that there had been a reduction in risk."
Ms Kaufmann added it would have been fair to consider these allegations as the board did not have to determine whether he had actually committed the crimes.
She said it would be "extraordinary" to release Worboys straight from a Category A prison, the highest security prison, into the community.