A NOTORIOUS criminal who raped and killed two schoolgirls in the 1980s is set to be FREED from prison, the Parole Board has said.
Colin Pitchfork was jailed for life after brutally strangling 15-year-old girls Lynda Mann and Dawn Ashworth to death in Leicestershire in 1983 and 1986 respectively.
A hearing took place in March this year to consider if he was suitable for release – and the decision to set him free after 33 years was published today.
Pitchfork, then in his 20s, became the first man convicted of murder on the basis of DNA evidence and was jailed for life at Leicester Crown Court in 1988, with a minimum sentence of 30 years to be served.
He was eventually caught after the world's first mass screening for DNA, as 5,000 men in three villages were asked to volunteer blood or saliva samples.
Read our Colin Pitchfork live blog for the latest news & updates…
- Joseph Gamp
ALBERTO COSTA ACCUSES PAROLE BOARD OF 'PLAYING POLITICS' OVER COLIN PITCHFORK RELEASE
He accused the Parole Board of "playing politics" and said he would be lobbying the Justice Secretary.
"The Parole Board has received criticism before in the past – let's not forget only three years ago the John Worboys fiasco that the Parole Board went through when they tried to release that repugnant individual," Mr Costa said.
"The Parole Board back then had the opportunity of hearing Pitchfork but because of representations that I made to the then secretary of state for justice, they acted politically as a Parole Board and chose to delay listening to having a hearing for Colin Pitchfork, so the Parole Board aren't short of playing politics in this as well."
- Joseph Gamp
PAROLE BOARD STATEMENT OVER POTENTIAL COLIN PITCHFORK PRISON RELEASE
The decision is provisional for 21 days, subject to the approval of the Justice Secretary who has the power to appeal against the decision.
It is understood the Government will seek legal advice over the decision.
A Parole Board spokesman said: "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.
"Parole reviews are undertaken thoroughly and with extreme care. Protecting the public is our number one priority."
- Joseph Gamp
WHAT ARE LICENSING CONDITIONS OF COLIN PITCHFORK'S RELEASE?
Colin Pitchfork's release is subject to strict licence conditions.
He will have to live at a certain address, take part in probation supervision, wear an electronic tag, take part in polygraph – lie detector – tests and have to disclose what vehicles he uses and who he speaks to, while facing particular limits on contact with children.
Pitchfork will also be subject to a curfew, have restrictions on using technology and limitations on where he can go.
- Joseph Gamp
PAROLE BOARD READ 1,100 PAGES OF INFORMATION WHEN DECIDING ON PITCHFORK'S RELEASE
The panel considered more than 1,100 pages of information, victim statements and heard evidence from Pitchfork – who is now in his 60s – as well as his probation officers, police and a psychologist.
According to the document, at the time of his offending Pitchfork thought "about sex a lot", used "violence and excessive force" and "sex to demonstrate power and control over women".
He also struggled to cope with anger, loneliness and had a willingness to "seek revenge".
During his time behind bars he has taken part in several courses to address his behaviour and the panel heard Pitchfork's "behaviour in custody had been positive and had included extensive efforts to help others", including learning skills to help disabled people, the document said.
- Joseph Gamp
EXPLAINED: HOW AS COLIN PITCHFORK CAUGHT?
Colin Pitchfork was arrested and jailed in 1988 for the murders. It was a revolutionary case because he was the first criminal to be trapped by DNA profiling.
He was one of the thousands of local men who gave blood samples that were compared with material found on the girls' bodies.
The profiling technology had first been pioneered by Sir Alec Jeffreys at the University of Leicester and since Pitchfork's conviction, changed how police investigations in the future were carried out.
He was jailed for a minimum of 30 years. In 2009 it was reduced on appeal to 28 years.
After he was previously denied parole on two occasions, in 2016 and in 2018, the Parole Board deemed that the 61-year-old was no longer a danger to the public.
- Joseph Gamp
WHEN WERE THE SCHOOLGIRLS MURDERED?
On November 23, 1983, 15-year-old Lynda Mann took a shortcut on her way home from babysitting.
But she did not return home and her parents and neighbours spent the night searching for her. The next morning, she was found dead.
She had been raped and strangled on a deserted footpath known locally as the Black Pad.
Then, three years later, on July 31 1986, a second 15-year-old girl, Dawn Ashworth, vanished after leaving her home to visit a friend's house.
Two days later, her dead body was found in a wooded area near a footpath called Ten Pound Lane. She had been savagely beaten, brutally raped and strangled. The semen samples also revealed the same blood type.
- Joseph Gamp
WHAT HAPPENED TO DAWN ASHWORTH AND LYNDA MANN?
The two girls were pounced upon by Colin Pitchfork, a baker and convicted sex offender who was in his 20s when he murdered them.
Given the similarities of the attack and location, police linked them.
Yet there were not enough leads or enough evidence to connect anybody to the murder and the case was not immediately solved.
- Joseph Gamp
PICTURED: COLIN PITCHFORK ON DAY RELEASE BACK IN 2017
In November 2017, child murderer Colin Pitchfork was seen in public for the first time since being jailed 30 years ago
- Joseph Gamp
COLIN PITCHFORK HAS EXHIBITED ARTWORK SINCE BEING JAILED – AND IT SPARKED PUBLIC OUTCRY
The double-murderer exhibited a sculpture at the Royal Festival Hall in April 2009 — sparking public outrage.
He had created the design, titled Bringing Music To Life, from inside HMP Frankland, County Durham.
It was described as being made "in meticulous miniature detail by folding, cutting and tearing the score of Beethoven's Ninth Symphony".
Sick Pitchfork had written alongside the piece: "Without this opportunity to show our art, many of us would have no incentive, we would stay locked in ourselves as much as the walls that hold us.”
Distress from the family of his victims led to the work being removed from display.
- Joseph Gamp
COLIN PITCHFORK WAS LET OUT ON DAY RELEASE IN 2017
On 13 November 2017, we reported how Pitchfork was allowed out to roam Bristol city centre alone for six hours.
He was seen eating a pulled pork sandwich and giggled as he pored over Great British Bake Off books.
Pitchfork, who has changed his name to Thorpe, also went to a job centre and visited three banks.
He was returned by staff to HMP Leyhill, an open prison in Gloucestershire.
- Joseph Gamp
VICTIM'S MOTHER PREVIOUSLY SAID PITCHFORK SHOULD NEVER BE RELEASED
Kath Eastwood, the mother of one of his victims, Lynda Mann, said he should never be freed as he would always be a danger to the public.
Kath added: “He shouldn’t even be breathing and should, at least, be locked up forever.’’
Lynda’s father, Jonathan is stricken with Parkinson’s disease and “luckily too ill” to grasp the situation.
In 2018 he was denied parole and was told he will be eligible for further review within two years.
A hearing took place in March to consider whether he was suitable for release and on June 7, 2021, the decision that the Parole Board ruled Pitchfork was suitable for release, was published.
- Joseph Gamp
WHO IS COLIN PITCHFORK AND WHO ARE HIS TRAGIC VICTIMS?
Pitchfork, now 61, was the first person in the world to be arrested and convicted using DNA evidence.
He was jailed for life in 1988 for raping and murdering Lynda Mann and Dawn Ashworth, both 15, in Leicestershire.
Lynda was strangled and viciously attacked as she set off to visit a friend's house on 21 November 1983.
Three years later, on 31 July 1986, Dawn was brutally beaten, strangled and raped as she walked home.
After applying for parole, their killer was pictured preparing for life on the outside — and was even spotted shopping in Bristol on day release.
- Joseph Gamp
EXPLAINED: HOW OLD IS COLIN PITCHFORK NOW AND WILL HE BE RELEASED?
NOTORIOUS double child murderer, Colin Pitchfork was sentenced to 30 years in 1988 for raping and killing two 15-year-old girls in Leicestershire.
After he was denied parole in 2018, the Parole Board ruled that he can be released, it was revealed on Monday, June 7, 2021.
Read more here.
- Joseph Gamp
LOCAL MP RAISED CONCERNS OVER COLIN PITCHFORK RELEASE
Local MP Alberto Costa said he had met the chief executive of the Parole Board for England and Wales Martin Jones to discuss the case.
Following the meeting, Mr Costa announced he would write to the Secretary of State for Justice, Robert Buckland MP, to ensure both he and the Parole Board were aware of local concerns about the case.
Mr Costa said: "Colin Pitchfork’s heinous crimes quite understandably live long in the memory of many of my constituents and his case is still of considerable concern to residents in South Leicestershire.
“In light of his recent referral for a parole review, I was very pleased to meet with the chief executive of the Parole Board and to gain a better understanding of Pitchfork’s case in order to inform the next steps I will be taking on this matter.
"The safety and wellbeing of my constituents is, of course, paramount importance, so I want to ensure that the Parole Board are fully aware of Pitchfork’s crimes and his character before any decisions are made.”
- Joseph Gamp
COLIN PITCHFORK SERVED A MINIMUM LIFE SENTENCE OF 30 YEARS BEHIND BARS
After Dawn’s killing, Leicestershire Police launched the largest manhunt in its history, asking more than 5,000 local men to volunteer blood or saliva samples in a bid to match samples taken from the crime scenes.
No matches were found, but in 1987 a bakery colleague was overheard boasting that he’d received £200 for giving a sample while posing as Pitchfork.
The conversation was reported to police, and a month later Pitchfork was arrested.
He pleaded guilty to the rape and murder of Lynda and Dawn, and was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 30 years.
This was reduced on appeal to 28 years in 2009.
- Joseph Gamp
HOW DID COLIN PITCHFORK KILL HIS VICTIMS?
Pitchfork, who now calls himself David Thorpe after ditching his notorious name, raped and strangled Lynda, 15, in November 1983.
The teenager had left her home to visit a friend – but never returned.
Her body was found the next morning on a deserted footpath.
Three years later, Pitchfork, who worked as a baker, struck again – killing and raping Dawn, also 15, in almost identical circumstances.
Her body was found less than a mile from where Lynda had been attacked.
- Joseph Gamp
WATCH: DOUBLE CHILD KILLER COLIN PITCHFORK BECOMES FIRST MURDERER TO BE CONVICTED USING DNA EVIDENCE
Double child killer Colin Pitchfork becomes first murderer to be convicted using DNA evidence
- Joseph Gamp
WHAT DID THE PAROLE BOARD SAY ABOUT COLIN PITCHFORK'S RELEASE?
A document detailing the Parole Board decision said: "After considering the circumstances of his offending, the progress made while in custody and the evidence presented at the hearing, the panel was satisfied that Mr Pitchfork was suitable for release."
- Joseph Gamp
PITCHFORK NOW 'NO LONGER A DANGER TO THE PUBLIC', SAYS PAROLE BOARD
But the Parole Board today deemed that the 61-year-old – the first murderer to be convicted using DNA evidence – was no longer a danger to the public.
Pitchfork has been turned down for release on two previous occasions.
- Joseph Gamp
COLIN PITCHFORK WILL HAVE 35 CONDITIONS ATTACHED TO HIS RELEASE
The killer will have 35 conditions attached to his release.
These include electronic tagging, lie detector tests and he must provide details of any vehicle he owns.
He must also not visit the area where his crimes were committed.
- Joseph Gamp
COLIN PITCHFORK MUGSHOT FROM THE 1980s
Colin Pitchfork was caged for life in 1988 for the rape and murder of teenage schoolgirls Lynda Mann and Dawn Ashworth in Leicestershire
- Joseph Gamp
COLIN PITCHFORK CAN BE RELEASED FROM PRISON SAYS PAROLE BOARD
A DOUBLE child killer who raped and murdered two 15-year-old girls can be released, the Parole Board has ruled.
Sex-obsessed Colin Pitchfork was caged for life in 1988 for the rape and murder of teenage schoolgirls Lynda Mann and Dawn Ashworth in Leicestershire.
Read more here.
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