Colin Pitchfork, a convicted double child killer and rapist, will not be released from prison, as confirmed by the Parole Board. The 65-year-old was sentenced to life in 1988 for the rape and murder of 15-year-olds Lynda Mann and Dawn Ashworth in Leicestershire in 1983 and 1986. The Parole Board decided against his release, citing concerns about his limited internal controls and lack of insight into his risky behavior. They deemed his progress in addressing and reducing risks insufficient for placement in an open prison.
Pitchfork’s attempt to challenge the Parole Board’s decisions regarding an alleged sexual assault on another prisoner was dismissed by the High Court in February. This challenge occurred prior to a hearing to determine his potential release. In a separate incident last year, Pitchfork postponed a parole hearing by challenging the disclosure of material related to fresh allegations about his conduct in prison.
Pitchfork, who made history as the first person in the UK to be convicted using DNA profiling at the age of 27, was initially given a minimum jail term of 30 years, later reduced to 28 years. Previous assessments by the Parole Board revealed that he derived a “buzz” from sexually assaulting his victims and described his violent acts as a result of pent-up rage.
The Parole Board highlighted that Pitchfork’s risk escalates during times of life stress or relationship breakdown, leading to a grievance towards women. Despite being released in September 2021, he returned to prison two months later for breaching his license conditions. The Parole Board attempted to release him in June 2023, but the decision was overturned by the then-justice secretary due to concerns about his behavior and breaches of prison regulations.
The review emphasized Pitchfork’s crimes from 1979 to 1986, including two indecent assault offenses where the victims narrowly escaped with their lives. The prosecution characterized the rape and murder of the two 15-year-old girls as sadistic attacks. Victims of Pitchfork were present at recent hearings, following reforms implemented to enhance transparency in the justice system.
