Double child murderer Colin Pitchfork’s release has been put on hold after his Parole Board ruling was challenged in court.

A judge granted an application from Justice Secretary Lord Chancellor Alex Chalk challenging the decision to free the 63-year-old, which was made last month, finding “irrationality”.

They found the original decision had not placed sufficient weight on several factors included in the evidence.

Considered together, the judge ruled the decision was “irrational”.

The ruling means the Parole Board must reconsider the decision in a fresh hearing.

Pitchfork was a 22-year-old father of two when he was jailed for life in 1988.

He pleaded guilty to two murders, two rapes, two indecent assaults and conspiracy to pervert the course of justice after raping and strangling two 15-year-old girls, Lynda Mann and Dawn Ashworth, in Leicestershire in 1983 and 1986.

His minimum sentence of 30 years was reduced to 28 for good behaviour in 2009, and he was moved to an open prison before his release in 2021.

He was recalled after approaching two young women in the street two months later but the Parole Board released him on licence in June, finding it was “no longer necessary for the protection of the public for Mr Pitchfork to remain confined and thereby directed his release”.

His release was allowed provided he complied with a selection of licence conditions, including resining at a designated address, surrendering his passport, and submitting to GPS monitoring.

The decision drew immediate backlash, with Mr Chalk stating the Government would pursue a review, and triggered the reconsideration mechanism as he felt there was an arguable case the decision was irrational.

He said earlier this month: “My number one priority is public protection, and after careful assessment, I have asked the Parole Board to reconsider their decision to release him.”

We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you’ve consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. More info

“It is absolutely vital that every lawful step is taken to keep dangerous offenders behind bars.”

The Parole Board judge found that the panel of two judicial members and a psychologist correctly reviewed the appropriateness of Pitchfork’s recall and found it was unjustified.

They acknowledged the panel faced a “particularly complex and challenging” task, which was not “assisted by the requirement to consider whether the recall was justified, in addition to the substantive issue of re-release”.

Source: Read Full Article