South Leicestershire MP, Alberto Costa, has been informed by the Prisons Minister that the parole date for the convicted child-rapist and killer Colin Pitchfork has now been moved to December later this year to allow the Parole Board to properly assess his risk.
Pitchfork, who was sentenced to life imprisonment in 1988, was previously released by the Parole Board in September last year before being recalled to prison two months later for breaching his licence conditions. He was due to have his next hearing in front of the Parole Board next month however this has now been moved to December.
Alberto was informed by the Minister of State for Prisons and Probation, The Rt. Hon Stuart Andrew MP, and this has since been confirmed by the Parole Board for England and Wales, who told the MP that further reports and information are needed to assess Pitchfork’s risk.
Alberto has long campaigned against the release of Colin Pitchfork, who raped and murdered two teenage girls, Lynda Mann and Dawn Ashworth, in his constituency in 1983 and 1986 respectively. The MP has been highly critical of the Parole Board’s actions in directing Pitchfork for release, especially after he was recalled to prison after only a matter of weeks due to serious concerns over his behaviour.
Alberto said, “I have been personally informed by the Prisons Minister and the Parole Board for England & Wales that Pitchfork’s next parole hearing has now been delayed for at least three months. This delay comes as the Parole Board have said that they require further reports and information to properly assess the risk Pitchfork may continue to pose. While I am pleased that the Parole Board are taking the necessary steps to explore the risks in this case, I think it is quite clear to many that Pitchfork continues to present a very real danger to the public”.
Alberto added, ‘I have promised to keep my constituents entirely informed on any developments in Pitchfork’s case, and similarly I will continue doing all I can, with the added time we now have, to oppose his release and to ensure that this dangerous criminal stays in prison where he belongs”.
