Child killer Colin Pitchfork’s bid for freedom is turning into a “farce” and the Parole Board must hold his latest appeal in public, says a Tory MP.
Pitchfork, jailed for life in 1988 for the rape and murder of 15-year-olds Lynda Mann and Dawn Ashworth in 1983 and 1986, was freed in 2021.
He was returned to jail two months later after approaching a lone woman.
Last June, the board said his incarceration was no longer necessary.
He was returned to jail two months later after breaching his licence conditions by approaching a lone woman while litter-picking – and since then the case taken several twists.
In June 2023, the Parole Board ruled that the decision to recall him was flawed, with his ongoing incarceration deemed no longer necessary for public safety.
Alex Chalk, the Justice Secretary and Lord Chancellor subsequently blocked that decision, and Pitchfork’s release, scheduled for December 2023, was denied after a judge agreed it was “irrational”.
However, the Parole Board agreed Pitchfork’s appeal for them to consider his case yet again, meaning he will face a fresh hearing before a different panel of Parole Board members, likely to be held in June.
Now Alberto Costa, MP for South Leicestershire, where Pitchfork committed his crimes, says the public is losing confidence in the board. Yesterday Mr Costa wrote to chairwoman Caroline Corby urging “greater transparency”.
Mr Costa has campaigned to keep Pitchfork, 63, behind bars and yesterday wrote to Parole Board chairwoman Caroline Corby urging “greater transparency”.
He told Express.co.uk: “The Parole Board have now entered farce territory by allowing Colin Pitchfork to appeal the decision to keep him behind bars.”
Mr Costa is demanding the hearing, likely to be in June, is held in public.
He said: “The public are understandably outraged that a man considered too dangerous to release in December now has the chance to make his case again.”
The MP warned Pitchfork was “capable of committing despicable acts”.
He wants reform, adding: “The fact Pitchfork can apply for limitless appeals is a perverse outcome undermining the finality of decisions.”
“This case exemplifies the urgent need for rule reform.”
A previous application for a public hearing the case of Pitchfork was rejected in an eight-page document published in March 2, 2023, with Ms Corby concluding that an agreement to do so would result in the disclosure of information which should be kept private.
The Parole Board declined to comment further when contacted by Express.co.uk.
