Serial killer Patrick Mackay who is UK’s longest serving prisoner after ‘butchering 11’ including priest could be freed

His case has been referred to the Parole Board with a hearing that could take place as soon as September.

A spokesperson said: "We can confirm the case of Patrick Mackay has been referred to the Parole Board. It is awaiting a date to be listed."

Mackay, who now uses the name David Groves, was transferred to an open prison where he has been described as the "model" lag.

He was convicted of three killings at trial but is suspected of a further eight.

His first victim was widow Isabella Griffiths, 87, who was strangled and stabbed at her home in Chelsea.

He then strangled Adele Price, 89, in Kensington before upping his grisly killing technique.

The brute butchered Father Anthony Crean, 63, using his fists, a knife and an axe, before leaving his mutilated body in a bath full of bloody water.

He was charged with five counts of murder but was convicted of three counts of manslaughter due to diminished responsibility.

The other two cases were allowed to lie on file - meaning prosecutors believed they had enough evidence but a trial was felt not to be in the public interest.

Among those suspected of being Mackay's other victims are popular cafe owner Ivy Davis, who was found at her Westcliff-on-sea home with multiple wounds to her head, as well as a ligature around her neck in February 1975.

The killer also allegedly confessed to four other murders while rotting in jail - including Stephanie Britton and her four-year-old grandson Christopher Martin in 1974.

Another chilling confession was to the murder of au pair Heidi Mnilk, 18, who was knifed in the neck on a train between London Bridge and New Cross before being hurled on to tracks.

If he really did kill 11 people, he would hold the grisly title of Britain's fifth most prolific serial killer behind Dr Harold Shipman, Dennis Nilsen, Peter Sutcliffe and Fred and Rose West.