Double child murderer and rapist Colin Pitchfork has been denied release from custody by the Parole Board. The 65-year-old was sentenced to life in prison back in 1988 for the brutal rape and murder of 15-year-olds Lynda Mann and Dawn Ashworth in Leicestershire in 1983 and 1986. The Parole Board’s decision to keep him incarcerated was based on concerns about his lack of insight into his dangerous behaviors and the insufficient progress he had made in addressing and reducing the risks associated with his potential release to an open prison.
According to a document detailing the decision, the panel determined that Pitchfork exhibited limited internal controls and a poor understanding of the risks posed by his thoughts and actions. This led them to conclude that he had not sufficiently mitigated these risks to a level that would warrant a transfer to an open prison facility.
Pitchfork’s attempt to challenge the Parole Board’s decisions in court earlier this year, in relation to an alleged sexual assault on another inmate, was unsuccessful. This legal battle occurred ahead of a scheduled hearing to assess his potential release for a second time.
Pitchfork made history in 1987 as the first individual in the UK to be convicted using DNA evidence, receiving a minimum sentence of 30 years, later reduced to 28 years. The Parole Board highlighted in their assessment that previous reviews had revealed Pitchfork’s disturbing pleasure in sexually assaulting his victims, describing his violent acts as stemming from pent-up rage that would suddenly erupt.
The panel noted that Pitchfork’s risk level tended to increase during periods of life stress or relationship breakdowns, fueling his animosity towards women. Despite being briefly released in September 2021, he was swiftly returned to prison for breaching his release conditions after approaching a lone woman while performing community service.
A subsequent decision by the Parole Board in June 2023 to release Pitchfork was challenged and blocked by the then-justice secretary, Alex Chalk, citing concerns about public safety. The Board cited ongoing behavioral issues and breaches of prison regulations by Pitchfork, leading to his loss of employment and further allegations regarding his conduct towards a younger inmate.
Professional witnesses and a comprehensive 2,000-page dossier from the justice secretary were considered during the parole review, all of which did not support Pitchfork’s release. His heinous crimes committed between 1979 and 1986, including violent assaults where victims narrowly escaped with their lives, were described as shockingly sadistic by prosecutors, particularly the rape and murder of the two teenage girls who were unknown to him.
Reforms introduced in April allowed victims of Pitchfork to observe the proceedings during the recent hearings on May 15 and 16, aiming to enhance transparency and trust in the justice system.
