Colin Pitchfork release latest – Monster child murderer WILL walk free Parole Board decide despite killing two kids

PAROLE BOARD STATEMENT ON PITCHFORK’S RELEASE FROM JAIL

The government mounted a bid to stop the double killer’s release – arguing it was “irrational” to let him go free.

But Pitchfork will be released after the Parole Board “refused” the challenge.

A spokesman said in a statement: “The Parole Board has immense sympathy for the families of Dawn Ashworth and Lynda Mann and recognises the pain and anguish they have endured and continue to endure through the parole process.

“However, Parole Board panels are bound by law to assess whether a prisoner is safe to release. It has no power to alter the original sentence set down by the courts. Legislation dictates that a panel’s decision must be solely focused on what risk a prisoner may pose on release and whether that risk can be managed in the community.

“As made clear in the reconsideration decision, release was supported by all of the Secretary of State’s witnesses during Mr Pitchfork’s review.”

‘MODEL PRISONER’ COLIN PITCHFORK WAS ALLOWED TO SPEND NIGHTS AWAY FROM JAIL IN 2017

ONE of Britain’s most evil child killers has been freed to spend nights away from jail for the first time in 30 years.

Double murderer Colin Pitchfork, who has been lapping up days out on temporary licence, has now won the right to unsupervised overnight stays in the community.

As he prepares for his new life he is being allowed “night settlement, “ a Ministry of Justice spokesperson confirmed.

Pitchfork, 58 – the first person ever to be snared by DNA evidence – has already been freed to roam the streets during un-monitored days our to  look for a job and home.

DAWN ASHWORTH’S MOTHER SAYS PITCHFORK ‘WILL ALWAYS BE A PRESENT DANGER’

The Parole Board has deemed that the 61-year-old – the first murderer to be convicted using DNA evidence – was no longer a danger to the public after being turned down for release on two previous occasions.

The mother of Dawn Ashworth has said Pitchfork “will always present a danger”.

And the sister of his first victim, Lynda Mann, said the only sentence Pitchfork should have received was “a bullet to the head”.

Sue Gratrick, who’s sister Lynda Mann, said the Parole Board’s decision was putting the family through hell.

Sue has since moved to a seaside town more than 100 miles away from the scene of her sister’s murder.

'DISTRESSED' SUSANNA REID SHOCKED AS DOUBLE KILLER COLIN PITCHFORK SET TO BE RELEASED

EXPLAINED: HOW WAS 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.

VICTIM'S MOTHER DESCRIBES PAROLE BOARD DECISION AS 'DISAPPOINTING'

The mother of Dawn Ashworth, one of Colin Pitchfork's victims, has told the PA news agency the Parole Board's decision to allow the release of her daughter's killer is "disappointing".

Barbara Ashworth said: "Well obviously I've had 33 years of it and it's all been said and as far as I'm concerned he's going to be out in amongst the public so it speaks for itself.

"He can't hurt me any more."

Asked if the Parole Board's decision was disappointing, Mrs Ashworth said: "Well, would it be for you?

"Obviously it's disappointing for me, yes."

HOW WAS 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.

WATCH: DOUBLE CHILD KILLER COLIN PITCHFORK BECOMES FIRST MURDERER TO BE CONVICTED USING DNA EVIDENCE

DAWN ASHWORTH’S MOTHER SAYS PITCHFORK ‘WILL ALWAYS BE A PRESENT DANGER’

The Parole Board has deemed that the 61-year-old – the first murderer to be convicted using DNA evidence – was no longer a danger to the public after being turned down for release on two previous occasions.

The mother of Dawn Ashworth has said Pitchfork “will always present a danger”.

And the sister of his first victim, Lynda Mann, said the only sentence Pitchfork should have received was “a bullet to the head”.

Sue Gratrick, who’s sister Lynda Mann, said the Parole Board’s decision was putting the family through hell.

Sue has since moved to a seaside town more than 100 miles away from the scene of her sister’s murder.

WHAT HAPPENED WHEN COLIN PITCHFORK WAS ON DAY RELEASE IN 2017?

On November 13, 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.

‘MODEL PRISONER’ COLIN PITCHFORK WAS ALLOWED TO SPEND NIGHTS AWAY FROM JAIL IN 2017

ONE of Britain’s most evil child killers has been freed to spend nights away from jail for the first time in 30 years.

Double murderer Colin Pitchfork, who has been lapping up days out on temporary licence, has now won the right to unsupervised overnight stays in the community.

As he prepares for his new life he is being allowed “night settlement, “ a Ministry of Justice spokesperson confirmed.

Pitchfork, 58 – the first person ever to be snared by DNA evidence – has already been freed to roam the streets during un-monitored days our to  look for a job and home.

WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT COLIN PITCHFORK’S CRIMES (CONTINUED…)

• He pleaded guilty to both murders in September 1987 and was sentenced to life in January 1988.
• The judge said the killings were “particularly sadistic” and he doubted Pitchfork, who he described as “a danger to young women”, g would ever be released.
• In 2009, his minimum 30-year life tariff was reduced by two years for “exceptional progress” – a decision that was strongly criticised by his victims’ families.
• The Court of Appeal heard Pitchfork had achieved a “high standard of education to degree level” and had never been placed “on report” while in custody.
• The prisoner had also become a specialist in transcribing printed music into Braille to assist the blind – work which was used across the UK and internationally.

WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT COLIN PITCHFORK'S SICK CRIMES

• Pitchfork was convicted on DNA fingerprinting evidence and the first to be caught as a result of mass screening. He was 22 at the time of his first murder in November 1983.
•  He left his baby son sleeping in the back of his car and raped and strangled 15-year-old Lynda Mann with her own scarf on a secluded footpath in Narborough, Leics. He then returned to his home in nearby Littlethorpe to put his child to bed.
• Nearly three years later in July 1986 and less than a mile from where Lynda died the he raped and murdered Dawn Ashworth, also 15, in Enderby.
• A police investigation initially led to the wrong suspect Richard Buckland, a 17-year-old local,  who falsely confessed to one of the killings.
• After an unprecedented mass screening of 5,000 men across three villages using pioneering “DNA profiling” technology, Pitchfork was finally caught. He had earlier evaded justice by persuading a colleague to take the test for him.

EXPLAINED: HOW WAS 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.

COLIN PITCHFORK'S VICTIMS (CONTINUED...)

Dawn Ashworth

Dawn had left a friend's house in Narborough and vanished on the short walk to her home in the neighbouring village of Enderby.

Her body, found in the corner of a field hidden under branches, showed signs of a terrible struggle before she was killed.

Shortly after her body was found, cops arrested Richard Buckland – a local 17-year-old with learning difficulties who knew Dawn.

However, DNA evidence proved Buckland was innocent and eventually led to Pitchfork's arrest.

WHO WERE COLIN PITCHFORK'S VICTIMS?

Lynda Mann

Lynda Mann took a shortcut on her way home from babysitting in Narborough on November 21, 1983 – when she didn't arrive at the house, her worried parents spent the evening looking for her.

The next morning, her body was found dumped on a local footpath.

She'd been raped and strangled to death.

Police had no leads or evidence in the crime until Dawn Ashworth's body was found in similar circumstances in July 1986.

EXPLAINED: WHO IS COLIN PITCHFORK?

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.

After applying for parole in 2017, their killer was pictured preparing for life on the outside — and was even spotted shopping in Bristol on day release.

VICTIM'S MOTHER TOLD HOW SHE SUPPORTED ROBERT BUCKLAND'S LEGAL CHALLENGE

Dawn’s mother, Barbara Ashworth, 75, who lives in Cornwall, told the Times she fully supported intervention by Buckland.

As the challenge was mounted earlier this year, she said: "My world has been shattered by this man. He can’t hurt me any more than he has already by killing my daughter, but there will be other 15-year-old girls in the streets.

"If he was released, he could search for any victim he wanted to. He is a psychopath who should be kept in prison where he belongs.

"I would fully support Robert Buckland in trying to stop him from being released, absolutely."

LORD CHANCELLOR ROBERT BUCKLAND ATTEMPTED TO BLOCK PITCHFORK'S RELEASE

THE Lord Chancellor is set to challenge the release of double child killer Colin Pitchfork, reports claim.

Robert Buckland is likely to question the Parole Board's ruling that sees Pitchfork being released after 33 years.

Justice Secretary Robert Buckland told Sky's Trevor Phillips: "The decision was made by the Parole Board in early June, I have 21 days to consider whether or not I ask them for a formal reconsideration.

"I'm working my way through that very carefully, I'm taking advice on the matter and I'll make an announcement within that 21-day period as soon as possible."

PICTURED: COLIN PITCHFORK IN THE 1980s

GOVERNMENT FAILS IN BID TO KEEP DOUBLE CHILD KILLER BEHIND BARS

Double child killer Colin Pitchfork is set to be freed from prison after the Parole Board rejected a Government challenge against its ruling.

Pitchfork, now in his early 60s, was jailed for life after raping and strangling 15-year-olds Lynda Mann and Dawn Ashworth in Leicestershire in 1983 and 1986.

He became the first man convicted of murder on the basis of DNA evidence in 1988 after admitting two murders, two rapes, two indecent assaults and conspiracy to pervert the course of justice.

Following a hearing in March, the Parole Board ruled he was "suitable for release", despite this being denied in 2016 and 2018.

But last month Justice Secretary Robert Buckland asked the board, which is independent of the Government, to re-examine the decision under the so-called reconsideration mechanism.

VICTIM LYNDA MANN'S SISTER SAYS PITCHFORK 'SHOULD NOT BE GETTING OUT'

Lynda Mann’s sister told The Sun earlier this year: “He should not be getting out. But what more is there to say? They are going to let him out.

“They would not let a serial killer out but they are letting him out. They say he has done his time, that he has rights and all that malarkey so free he goes.”

Sue blazed: “What he wants is a bullet to the head. But that’s not going to happen so there is nothing we can do about it.”

She said the decision had raked up painful memories for the family, adding: “We have been fighting it for years – but there you go.”

Barbara Ashworth, 75, whose daughter Dawn was strangled to death in 1986, told the : “This is a man who has displayed psychopathic tendencies – a man who thought he was clever enough to outwit police at the time of the murders by dodging the mass blood testing exercise. He nearly succeeded.

PITCHFORK PREVIOUSLY APPLIED FOR PAROLE IN 2018 BUT WAS REJECTED

The fiend, who was pictured on day release in 2017 wandering through Bristol, applied for parole in 2018 but his plea was rejected.

But the matter was reconsidered and in June this year, the Parole Board deemed ruled he was no longer a danger to the public.

FURY AS SIR KEIR STARMER BACKS RELEASE OF DOUBLE CHILD KILLER COLIN PITCHFORK

VICTIM'S MOTHER SLAMS RULING THAT PITCHFORK 'NO LONGER A DANGER TO THE PUBLIC'

But the matter was reconsidered and in June this year, the Parole Board deemed ruled he was no longer a danger to the public.

The decision was slammed by the families of both Lynda and Dawn.

Dawn's mum Barbara said at the time: "My world has been shattered by this man. He can’t hurt me any more than he has already by killing my daughter, but there will be other 15-year-old girls in the streets.

"If he was released, he could search for any victim he wanted to. He is a psychopath who should be kept in prison where he belongs.

"I would fully support Robert Buckland in trying to stop him from being released, absolutely."