Parole Board Says Double Child Killer Can Go Free but Minister Might Block Freedom Bid

Colin Pitchfork was the first murderer convicted on basis of DNA evidence

Colin Pitchfork in an undated police handout file photo. handout/PA

The Parole Board has cleared the way for child killer Colin Pitchfork to be released from prison but the justice secretary, Lord Chancellor Alex Chalk, will consider the case “extremely carefully.”

Pitchfork was jailed for life for raping and strangling Lynda Mann, 15, in Leicestershire in 1983 and Dawn Ashworth, who was also 15 years old, three years later.

He was the first person ever convicted on the basis of DNA evidence and, when faced with it, he pleaded guilty.

In 1988, Pitchfork was given a minimum term of 30 years by the trial judge, Mr Justice Otton, who said he, “should only be released when the authorities are satisfied that he is no longer a danger to women.”

At his appeal against the sentence, the Lord chief justice, Lord Lane, said, “From the point of view of the safety of the public I doubt he should ever be released.”

But Pitchfork was released in September 2021, only to be recalled two months later for breaching the conditions of his licence, namely by approaching a lone female.

Alberto Costa, the Conservative MP for South Leicestershire, said he was “deeply disappointed” by the decision to release Pitchfork and would be writing to Chalk to ask for an urgent review.

Pitchfork has changed his name by deed poll and his new identity has not been disclosed by the Parole Board.

Last year the government changed the law to allow parole hearings to be public but in the case of Pitchfork the Parole Board ruled his case was not suitable for a public hearing.

In their ruling (pdf) they gave a number of reasons for the hearing to be held in private, one of which was, “There is information to suggest that a public hearing could add to Mr Pitchfork’s grandiosity and could make managing Mr Pitchfork more challenging either in the prison estate or if he is released.”

Costa wrote on Twitter, “It is simply unthinkable that a man who committed such egregious crimes should ever be released, and I will be asking the government to challenge this decision in the strongest possible terms.”

MP: Pitchfork ‘a Very Real Danger to the Public’

“It is quite clear to many, not only in South Leicestershire, but the country that this man still presents a very real danger to the public and I will do all I can to challenge this decision. My thoughts remain with the families of Lynda and Dawn at this most difficult time,” Costa added.

A Downing Street spokesman said they did not want to pre-empt Chalk’s decision but added: “The prime minister’s thoughts and sympathies remain with the families of Lynda Mann and Dawn Ashworth. In terms of the process, though, Colin Pitchfork won’t be released immediately.”

“The decision is provisional for 21 days to give the Lord Chancellor an opportunity to apply for reconsideration and he will of course be looking at that very carefully,” he added.

A Parole Board panel said Pitchfork’s behaviour for most of his time in prison had not caused any concern and it was no longer necessary for him to be locked up for public safety.

A report said: “He has made constructive use of his time and is now 63 years old. In general, age tends to reduce risk. Mr Pitchfork has completed many courses satisfactorily and the evidence before the panel demonstrated that he had learnt the lessons that he had been taught and had worked out how to apply them in practice.”

The panel said the decision to recall him had been flawed and “made on the basis of some of the allegations not being proved and upon some incorrect information.”

A Ministry of Justice spokesman said: “This will be a very upsetting decision for the families of Lynda Mann and Dawn Ashworth and our heartfelt sympathies remain with them. Pitchfork will remain in prison while the Lord Chancellor looks extremely carefully at whether to ask the Parole Board to reconsider its decision,” he added.

“Our number one priority is public protection which is why we are reforming the parole system and introducing a ministerial check to keep the most dangerous offenders behind bars,” he added.

Released on Conditions

The Parole Board said Pitchfork should be released on condition he lives at a specific address—which would not be made public—behave well, surrender his passport, attend supervision appointments and disclose any relationships with women.

Pitchfork will also be expected to accept monitoring by means of a GPS tag, obey a nighttime curfew and comply with an exclusion zone to avoid contact with women, children and any of his victims’ relatives.

A Parole Board spokesman said: “Having considered all of the evidence, during a hearing observed by the victims and the local member of Parliament, the panel found that Mr Pitchfork’s recall to custody was flawed and not supported by the evidence.

“Separately, the panel found that the prisoner’s continued detention was no longer necessary for the protection of the public. Parole reviews are undertaken thoroughly and with extreme care,” he added.

“Protecting the public is our number one priority, however, our sole focus in law is risk, not punishment, and must be based on evidence. This case is eligible for reconsideration if any party thinks the decision is irrational or unfair,” they concluded.

PA Media contributed to this report.