Colin Pitchfork, a double child killer and rapist, has been denied release from prison 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, citing concerns for public safety, opted to keep Pitchfork incarcerated and rejected his transfer to an open prison.
A statement from the Parole Board highlighted Pitchfork’s lack of self-control and inadequate understanding of his problematic thoughts and actions. It concluded that he had not made sufficient progress in mitigating the risks associated with his behavior to warrant placement in an open prison.
Pitchfork’s attempt to challenge Parole Board decisions, specifically regarding an alleged sexual assault on another inmate, was dismissed by the High Court in February. Additionally, a parole hearing scheduled for last year was postponed as Pitchfork contested the limitations on the evidence he could access concerning new allegations about his behavior in prison.
Known for being the first person in the UK convicted through DNA profiling at the age of 27, Pitchfork was initially given a 30-year minimum sentence, later reduced to 28 years. The Parole Board’s evaluation revealed that previous assessments indicated Pitchfork derived pleasure from sexually assaulting his victims and described his violent acts as manifestations of built-up anger.
The panel noted that Pitchfork’s risk of offending increased during periods of personal stress or relationship breakdowns, contributing to his animosity towards women. Despite a brief release in September 2021, Pitchfork was swiftly reincarcerated for violating his license conditions by approaching a lone woman while engaged in community service.
In June 2023, the Parole Board deemed Pitchfork’s detention unnecessary for public safety following a review, but the decision was overruled by then-justice secretary Alex Chalk, leading to Pitchfork’s continued imprisonment. Concerns about his conduct and rule breaches in prison were raised, with a specific incident involving a younger inmate resulting in a substantiated allegation against Pitchfork.
Professional testimonies at his parole review unanimously opposed his release, supported by a comprehensive 2,000-page report furnished by the justice secretary. The report detailed Pitchfork’s crimes spanning from 1979 to 1986, including two instances of indecent assault where the victims narrowly escaped. The prosecution characterized the rape and murder of the two teenage girls as sadistic and shocking attacks by a stranger.
In a bid to enhance transparency and trust in the justice system, victims of Pitchfork were granted access to observe the proceedings during the hearings held on May 15 and 16.
