Parole Board asked to reconsider releasing double child-killer Colin Pitchfork
The UK's Parole Board has been asked to reconsider its decision to allow double child killer Colin Pitchfork to be released from prison.
Pitchfork, 63, was thrown behind bars for 30 years for the rape and murder of two 15-year-old girls, one in 1983 and one in 1986, before being released in 2021.
He made history after he became the first person in the world to be convicted using DNA evidence, landing him a life sentence with a minimum of 30 years.
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He was convicted of raping and strangling Lynda Mann as she was travelling home from a babysitting job in Narborough, Leicestershire, on November 21, 1983.
His second victim, Dawn Ashworth, suffered the same fate after she disappeared on a walk to her home in the nearby village of Enderby before her remains were discovered in the corner of a field hidden under tree branches.
In 2009, the killer's minimum sentence was reduced to 28 years, and in 2016 and 2018 he applied for parole – but the pleas were rejected.
In 2021, the Parole Board changed their minds and decided he was safe for release after leafing through more than 1,100 pages of information, victim statements, evidence given by Pitchfork and his probation officers, police and a psychologist.
However, his freedom was short-lived and he was quickly thrown behind bars for breaching the license conditions of his release by allegedly "approaching girls" – but he was confirmed for release once again last month.
But that decision is now being questioned, the Ministry of Justice confirmed.
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Lord Chancellor and Justice Secretary Alex Chalk said: “My thoughts remain with the families of Lynda Mann and Dawn Ashworth, whose lives were changed forever by the heinous crimes of Colin Pitchfork.
“My number one priority is public protection and after careful assessment I have asked the Parole Board to reconsider their decision to release him.
“It is absolutely vital that every lawful step is taken to keep dangerous offenders behind bars.”
Mr Chalk has officially triggered the reconsideration mechanism, as he claimed that there was an arguable case that the Parole Board’s decision was irrational.
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