A double murderer, who raped and killed two schoolgirls in the 1980s can be freed from jail, the Parole Board has decided.
Colin Pitchfork was jailed for life with a minimum term of 30 years after strangling Lynda Mann and Dawn Ashworth, both 15, in Leicestershire in 1983 and 1986.
In 1988, he became the first man convicted of murder on the basis of DNA evidence after the world’s first mass screening for DNA, which saw 5,000 men in three villages volunteering blood or saliva samples.
Pitchfork, who was in his 20s, pleaded guilty to two offences of murder, two of rape, two of indecent assault and one of conspiracy to pervert the course of justice.
In 2009, his minimum term was cut by two years, but he was denied parole in 2016 and again in 2018 before being moved to an open prison three years ago.
A hearing took place in March this year to consider whether he was suitable for release and the decision was published today.
A document detailing the Parole Board's decision said: “After considering the circumstances of his offending, the progress made while in custody and the evidence presented at the hearing, the panel was satisfied that Mr Pitchfork was suitable for release.”
Pitchfork’s release will be subject to strict licence conditions.
He will have to live at a certain address, take part in probation supervision, wear an electronic tag, take part in polygraph – lie detector – tests and have to disclose what vehicles he uses and who he speaks to, while facing particular limits on contact with children.
Pitchfork will also be subject to a curfew, have restrictions on using technology and limitations on where he can go.
The panel considered more than 1,100 pages of information, victim statements and heard evidence from Pitchfork – who is now in his 60s – as well as his probation officers, police and a psychologist.
According to the decision document, at the time of his offending Pitchfork thought “about sex a lot”, used “violence and excessive force” and “sex to demonstrate power and control over women”.
He also struggled to cope with anger, loneliness and had a willingness to “seek revenge”.
During his time behind bars he has taken part in several courses to address his behaviour and the panel heard Pitchfork’s “behaviour in custody had been positive and had included extensive efforts to help others”, including learning skills to help disabled people, the document said.
South Leicestershire MP Alberto Costa, who raised concerns about Pitchfork’s release with the Parole Board, said he was “appalled” by the decision and freeing him would be “dangerous”.
The Conservative MP told the BBC: “Even though some 30 years have passed, this isn’t the sort of crime that one can ever forget.”
He accused the Parole Board of “playing politics” and said he would be lobbying the Justice Secretary Robert Buckland.
The decision is provisional for 21 days, subject to the approval of the Justice Secretary who has the power to appeal against the decision.
It is understood the government will seek legal advice over the decision.
A Parole Board spokesman said: “Parole Board decisions are solely focused on what risk a prisoner could represent to the public if released and whether that risk is manageable in the community.
“Parole reviews are undertaken thoroughly and with extreme care. Protecting the public is our number one priority.”
