Ringleader of nursery abuse gang could now walk free, too
THE ringleader of Britain’s most sickening paedophile gang – who persuaded nursery worker Vanessa George to abuse babies and toddlers in her care – could be out of prison within months.
Colin Blanchard, 48, has been referred to the Parole Board to consider for release, along with their accomplice Angela Allen.
The fresh blow for victims and their horrified parents comes just a day after the Parole Board revealed that George is to be released after serving nearly ten years for abusing up to 30 children at a nursery in Plymouth.
Yesterday, Luke Pollard, Labour MP for Plymouth Sutton and Devonport, demanded that Justice Secretary David Gauke review the decision. He added: ‘I do not believe a few years behind bars is enough to change someone’s ways.’
The development, which comes amid mounting anger at George’s expected release in September, was described last night as ‘horrendous’ and ‘heaping bad news’ on to victims.
Blanchard, who was described by the judge at his trial as at ‘the hub of the paedophile wheel’, was handed an indeterminate sentence in 2011 for sex abuse charges and told he would serve a minimum of nine years.
Mr Justice John Royce told the married father-of-one: ‘It is in effect a life sentence. If the Parole Board is not satisfied it is safe for you to be released, you will remain in prison for the rest of your days. Many would say that is no more than you deserve.’
During sentencing, Blanchard was described as a ‘Svengali’ figure at the centre of one of the ‘ most sickening paedophile rings this country has ever seen’, as the IT worker persuaded a
Yesterday’s Daily Mail string of middle-aged women he met on Facebook to abuse children for his sexual pleasure.
Police uncovered their activities only when Blanchard forgot to log out of his personal email account and his business partner spotted images of child abuse.
The discovery led detectives to Allen, a former prostitute who traded pictures with Blanchard and George, shared sto
ries of child rape and sent Blanchard photos of herself abusing a child. She was handed an indeterminate prison sentence and ordered to serve a minimum of five years in 2009. George was also jailed indefinitely and told to serve a minimum of seven years.
Yesterday it was revealed the Parole Board considered George’s case during hearings in May and July and recommended her for release, concluding: ‘She presented as showing remorse for her actions.’ Now both Blanchard and Allen have been referred to the Parole Board to consider for release after serving their minimum terms.
A Parole Board spokesman said: ‘The job of the Parole Board is to determine if someone would represent a significant risk to the public after release. We do that with great care and public safety is our number one priority.’