Decision to move killer Pitchfork is an ‘insult’

RELATIVES of Colin Pitchfork’s victims have said the decision to transfer him to an open prison is “an insult”.

The notorious murderer, who has been in jail since 1988, has been moved to a lower security institution while prison staff judge whether he may ultimately be suitable for full release, Prisons Minister Sam Gyimah confirmed.

The information was released by Mr Gyimah in a letter to Alberto Costa, MP for South Leicestershire where Pitchfork raped and murdered 15-year-old Lynda Mann in Narborough in 1983 and later killed Dawn Ashworth, also 15, in a similar manner in Enderby.

Mr Costa had been seeking assurances that Pitchfork was not presently a danger to the public after a potential transfer to an open prison was sanctioned last year by former Justice Secretary Michael Gove.

It is unclear exactly when Pitchfork was transferred but the move took place before Christmas.

Lynda Mann’s younger sister Rebecca Eastwood and her mother Kath wrote to Pitchfork’s last parole board objecting to him being moved to an open prison.

Rebecca told the Mercury: “Given what he did, it is too big a risk.

“We were told there could be day trips with an officer and then if he behaves he will be let out on his own with a tag, then there could be longer trips out.

“It’s an insult. There is no way it is safe to let him out in public.

“He has been locked up until now so he hasn’t been able to offend. “Why give him the opportunity? “Me and my mum talked about it and there is the worry he will harm someone else.”

The minister’s letter does not say in which prison Pitchfork is currently being held or whether he has been allowed out, supervised or otherwise, in public.

It does say the purpose of the transfer is to test Pitchfork’s suitability for release “in less stringent circumstances”.

However Mr Gyimah wrote: “I must stress that the transfer to open prison does not guarantee eventual release.

“Before that happens, prisoners must meet another stringent set of tests and should their behaviour while in open conditions, or on release on temporary release, give cause for concern they are liable to be returned to closed conditions immediately.”

Mr Gyimah’s letter goes on to say the killer will not be considered for release until early 2018.

Mr Costa, a former Prison Service lawyer, said: “I don’t know if he (Pitchfork) is on any form of release.

“We do need to know whether he is among the public.

“I want assurances that every ‘t’ has been crossed and every ‘i’ dotted to ensure the safety of the public.

“I understand the need for an open prison system as part of the rehabilitation system.

“I don’t believe in locking people up and throwing away the key and the minister has assured me all the usual criteria have been followed.

“But with this particular individual and with some heinous crimes you do have to think should life mean life and is release ever appropriate.”

More than 20,000 people have signed an online petition, started by Rebecca Eastwood calling for former baker Pitchfork never to be freed.

Our sister paper the Leicester Mercury has asked the Ministry of Justice to confirm where Pitchfork is being held and whether he has been released out of the open prison.

They are awaiting a response.