Lawyers for the State have started the legal process that could keep WA’s most notorious serial rapist behind bars beyond his scheduled release date next month.

Gary Narkle, 64, was labelled a “serial sex monster” by then attorney-general Jim McGinty because of a history of sex crimes stretching back decades.

Convicted of sex offences against 14 women and girls over three decades, Narkle was jailed in 1985 for raping an 18-year-old girl three times, in 2000 for an assault on a 15-year-old girl, and in 2002 for repeatedly raping a 17-year-old girl near Mundaring Weir.

He was jailed for 10 years without parole in 2010 for the rape of a homeless man in his caravan. That term is due to end on June 9.

But lawyers for the State this week started the court process that could keep Narkle behind bars under dangerous sex offender laws. Narkle, appearing via video link from prison, represented himself.

He was told by Supreme Court Justice Anthony Derrick that the State’s first step was to have him declared a DSO under WA law — and then apply to either keep him locked up, or released under strict supervision.

It was in part Narkle’s offending that prompted WA to introduce their tough sex offender laws in 2005. The dangerous sex offender legislation was promised by Labor in the 2005 election campaign to ensure that the likes of Narkle were kept behind bars.

“When we’re talking about people who have a dangerous and severe personality disorder such as Mr Narkle, we’re talking about a handful of people in this State but I think we have an obligation to take special measures in order to protect the community,” Mr McGinty said then.

Ironically, Narkle has never been subject to the 2006 legislation — until now.