Double child killer Colin Pitchfork to stay in prison, Parole Board rules

Double child rapist and murderer Colin Pitchfork cannot be released from prison, the Parole Board has ruled.

Pitchfork was jailed for life with a minimum term of 30 years in 1988, later reduced to 28 years, for raping and strangling 15-year-olds Lynda Mann and Dawn Ashworth in 1983 and 1986 respectively.

The Parole Board met in October and November to decide whether he could be released, with its decision summary published on Thursday.

“Nor did the panel recommend to the Secretary of State that Mr Pitchfork should be transferred to an open prison.

“In the panel’s view, there remains a need for Mr Pitchfork to complete further work to address the identified risk factors in his case and it determined that this work should be undertaken in a closed prison.

“Mr Pitchfork will be eligible for another parole review in due course.”

He was released in September 2021 but recalled to prison two months later for breaching his licence when he approached a lone woman while litter-picking.

The Parole Board said in June this year that the decision to recall him was flawed and his detention was no longer necessary for public safety.

The decision was blocked by Justice Secretary Alex Chalk, who in July ordered the decision to release him be reviewed.

Pitchfork, who was 27 when he was jailed, had his case reviewed on October 2 and 3, and November 6, where he was aged 63.

It must be reviewed again in two years.

It said: “At the time of his offending, these risk factors had included his negative attitude towards women, his difficulties in managing extreme emotions and his enjoyment of causing fear in women.

“He had a need to be in control, held deviant fantasies and wanted to punish women. Mr Pitchfork was preoccupied with sexual thoughts, felt entitled to have sex as and when he wanted to and found enjoyment in sexual violence.

“He made poor decisions in his life, had difficulties in his relationships and was socially isolated, finding it difficult to solve life’s problems.

“The panel was concerned that there was an absence of current information about Mr Pitchfork’s attitude towards sex, his thinking and his beliefs.

“Having explored this at the hearing, the panel could not be wholly satisfied whether the behaviours that caused Mr Pitchfork to offend were no longer present.

“The panel also identified concerns about his behaviour in prison since his recall and what it considered to be protracted and inconsistent explanations from Mr Pitchfork about his time on licence.

“Having heard his evidence, the panel did not consider that he was being open and honest.”

The decision is provisional for 21 days, during which time Pitchfork can appeal, but the families of his victims have been made aware of the outcome.

Barbara Ashworth, mother of Dawn, told the PA news agency she did not wish to formally comment until the 21 days had passed, but said prison is “where he (Pitchfork) needs to be”.

The MP for South Leicestershire, Alberto Costa, who previously campaigned for Pitchfork to remain behind bars, welcomed the decision and said the killer has “no place in the community”.

In a statement, he said: “This is welcome news for my constituents and the families of Dawn and Lynda whose suffering will ultimately always outweigh Pitchfork’s punishment.

“A man capable of committing such horrific crimes, now only in his early 60s, has no place in the community where he remains a clear risk and I will continue to make that case.

“Under today’s laws, Colin Pitchfork’s crimes would likely see him spend his entire natural life in prison and today’s decision is another step closer to that reality.”

Mr Chalk said: “I asked the Parole Board to reconsider the release of Pitchfork this summer and I welcome their decision to keep him behind bars.

“This Government is clear that offenders who have committed the most heinous crimes should see out the rest of their days behind bars.

“That’s why we are changing the law so that for society’s most depraved killers, life means life.”