Leader of pervert gang to be considered for parole
Described by judge who jailed him as ‘wicked, warped and dangerous’
THE ‘Svengali-like’ leader of a twisted paedophile ring is due to be considered for release for prison in the coming weeks.
Colin Blanchard, from Rochdale, recruited nursery worker Vanessa George over the internet and persuaded her to abuse dozens of babies and toddlers for his own sick gratification.
He also enlisted three other women to abuse children.
Blanchard, now
53, was given an indefinite sentence and ordered to serve a minimum of nine years in 2011.
He’s so far spent 12 years behind bars.
Blanchard, a former businessman from Smithy Bridge, is due to appear before a Parole Board hearing on February 8.
If he persuades the panel he is no longer a danger to the public he could be released, with strict conditions, by March.
Sentencing him at Bristol crown court, Mr Justice Royce said: “You are warped, wicked, dangerous and manipulative.
“Your pernicious grooming of women, whose sexual interest in children you stimulate, nurture and feed on, is plain to see.”
The judge said Blanchard was guilty of ‘breathtaking depravity’ adding: “Your influence, Colin Blanchard, described this morning as Svengali-like over four separate women so they engaged in sexual abuse of children [of] such tender years, is frightening.
“It is more extraordinary when one appreciates you never actually met three of them face to face.
“It is beyond the ken of decent people how any of you could stoop as disgustingly low as you did.”
Blanchard admitted 19 charges including three of sexual assault against a child and one of bestiality involving his dog.
His dark secret was exposed by accident when a business colleague logged on to a computer at an office in Trafford Park and found a series of sickening emails.
The colleague informed police and Blanchard was arrested the next day as he flew into Manchester Airport from a business trip to Abu Dhabi.
Among his hand luggage were a laptop computer and an Apple iphone which contained explicit pictures of children aged 12 months to 18 months, some of whom were being abused.
The Mail reports he is currently being held at Category C HMP Wymott in Lancashire, which has specialist facilities for housing sex offenders.
Blanchard was considered for release along with co-conspirator Angela Allen in 2019 despite the judge warning at sentencing that he may never be freed from jail.
But the Parole Board judged him not ready for release without a hearing. George, who worked at Little Ted’s nursery in Plymouth, was also handed an indefinite sentence and locked up for a minimum of seven years in 2009.
Despite being told by Mr Justice Royce that he was passing ‘in effect, a life sentence’ she was released in 2019 following a parole hearing, which deemed she no longer represented a ‘significant risk to the public after release.’
A Parole Board spokesperson said: “An oral hearing has been listed for the parole review of Colin Blanchard and is scheduled to take place in February 2024.
“Parole Board decisions are solely focused on what risk a prisoner could represent to the public if released and whether that risk is manageable in the community.
“A panel will carefully examine a huge range of evidence, including details of the original crime, and any evidence of behaviour change, as well as explore the harm done and impact the crime has had on the victims.
“Members read and digest hundreds of pages of evidence and reports in the lead up to an oral hearing.
“Evidence from witnesses including probation officers, psychiatrists and psychologists, officials supervising the offender in prison as well as victim personal statements are then given at the hearing.
“The prisoner and witnesses are then questioned at length during the hearing which often lasts a full day or more. Parole reviews are undertaken thoroughly and with extreme care. Protecting the public is our number one priority.”