Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
Paedo gang ringleader’s bid to be freed from jail
Nursery pics fiend up for parole
A PAEDOPHILE gang leader who convinced a nursery worker to abuse children could be back on the streets by summer.
Colin Blanchard, 51, has been referred to the Parole Board to be considered for release, with a hearing as soon as May.
His case was referred by the Ministry of Justice after he had completed the minimum nine years of the indeterminate sentence handed to him in 2011.
His co-accused, nursery worker Vanessa George, is out after serving 10 years for abusing up to 64 babies, sharing the sick videos with Blanchard.
The special needs coordinator took pictures at a nursery in Plymouth, Devon, and sent them to the fiend after meeting him on Facebook, her trial heard.
IT expert Blanchard, of Rochdale, Lancs, was said to be the “hub of the paedophile wheel” which included Angela Allen, of Nottingham, who was due for release last year after being jailed in 2009.
Tracey Lyons, jailed in 2011 for sending child abuse pictures to Blanchard, has also been released.
Tracy Dawber, who was in a relationship with Blanchard, was caged for four years in 2011. Mumof-two George, whose family has disowned her, is under tough licence conditions that may also be applied to Blanchard. His victims’ families will be able to give their views in impact statements. The Parole Board said decisions “are solely focused on what risk a prisoner could represent to the public if released”.
From the makers of Sherlock and Dracula comes a spooky new thriller about a girl whose terrifying visions always wake her at 3.33am.
The six-parter for Amazon Prime, called The Devil’s Hour, is created by new writer Tom Moran and co-produced by former Doctor Who showrunner Steven Moffat. It will be filmed later this year.
When Lucy Chambers’ name is connected to a string of brutal murders, she realises how and why she is haunted by a life that isn’t her own. Eeeeeeek!
ITV, 7.30pm
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Asha and Aadi excitedly plan Dev’s surprise birthday party but Asha’s disappointed when Nina says she can’t make it.
Elsewhere, Jenny has a surprise visitor at the Rovers.