Double killer to remain behind bars
DOUBLE killer Colin Pitchfork’s hopes of winning his freedom within weeks have received a setback after his anticipated parole hearing this month was cancelled.
Pitchfork, who was jailed in 1988 for raping and murdering Leicestershire schoolgirls Lynda Mann and Dawn Ashworth, both 15, in 1983 and 1986, was scheduled go before a parole board hearing on Thursday, May 24.
The board was to assess whether it would be safe to release the 56-year-old and was expected to announce its decision within two weeks of the hearing.
However, Lynda’s sister, Rebecca Eastwood said her family was told that the hearing has been put back to next year following a review of the paperwork relating to the case.
Pitchfork, who will have learned of the decision in the past few days, has 28 days to lodge an appeal.
Rebecca said: “We’ve been told today that the parole board has looked at the paperwork and basically said they are not going to proceed until next year.
“So, as things stand, he will remain where he is, although he does have 28 days to appeal this decision.
“If he does not appeal, then the hearing will be next year.
“This does give us some time to breathe and think what we need to do next.”
Previously, Rebecca said that she and her family believed Pitchfork would be free in the near future.
The family has collected tens of thousands of signatures on a petition which calls for him to be kept in prison for the rest of his life.
He was allowed out in Bristol city centre without an escort late last year and last month was allowed to remain out of prison overnight.
At the end of October, he was photographed strolling around Bristol city centre, apparently on his own.
Pitchfork raped and murdered Lynda in November 1983, leaving her body near the Black Pad footpath, in Narborough.
In July 1986, he took Dawn’s life in an identical, brutal fashion, leaving her body in Ten Pound Lane, Narborough.
He became the first criminal to be trapped by the revolutionary DNA profiling process pioneered by Sir Alec Jeffreys at the University of Leicester after thousands of local men gave blood samples for testing against material found on the girls’ bodies.
He was jailed for a minimum of 30 years, although this was later reduced on appeal to 28 years.
Once released, Pitchfork would remain on licence for the rest of his life and would have restrictions on his movements.
This would include a stipulation that he would not be allowed anywhere in Leicestershire or to knowingly approach any of the girls’ relatives.
MP Alberto Costa has welcomed the decision not to release child killer Colin Pitchfork from jail at this stage.
South Leicestershire MP Mr Costa, who raised the matter days ago with the Secretary of State for Justice, the Rt Hon David Gauke MP, was pleased that the Parole Board made its decision on papers alone, dispensing with the need for an oral hearing.
The Conservative campaigned to ensure that the amended Parole Board Rules 2018 would come into force before Pitchfork’s scheduled oral hearing.
Mr Costa, a solicitor, said: “I very much welcome the parole board’s decision in Colin Pitchfork’s case.
“His heinous crimes were some of England’s most notorious criminal cases.
“As well as being of national interest, the crimes are still well known in the villages of Enderby and Narborough in my constituency and remain a cause of great distress for my constituents, many of whom were living nearby when these crimes took place.
“The decision to refuse Pitchfork release on permanent licence is very much one of relief and reassurance that the parole board have clearly considered all the relevant evidence in this case.”
Mr Costa added: “My first duty as an MP is to ensure the safety of my constituents.
“I will continue to press ministers at the very highest levels of Government, to ensure that the Parole Board is fully accountable to the public for its independent decisions and, in this matter, cognisant of Mr Pitchfork’s crimes and the risk he may continue to pose to public safety.”