South Leicestershire MP, Alberto Costa, has welcomed the intervention by the Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice, Robert Buckland QC MP, in challenging the Parole Board’s ‘appalling’ decision to release the convicted double child rapist and killer, Colin Pitchfork.
Alberto, who represents the South Leicestershire constituency where innocent teenagers, Lynda Mann and Dawn Ashworth, were brutally raped and murdered in 1983 and 1986, respectively, has led a long five year battle to oppose Pitchfork’s release and pushed the Justice Secretary to intervene and demand that the Parole Board reconsider its recent decision to release Pitchfork.
There has been widespread anger throughout the country about the Parole Board’s decision and the MP praised the Justice Secretary for listening to him and his constituents and stepping in to try and halt the release of Pitchfork.
Alberto said, “I thank the Lord Chancellor for listening to me. He has agreed with me to challenge the Parole Board’s appalling and flawed decision to release the convicted double child rapist and murderer Colin Pitchfork. Since that dreadful announcement was made a few weeks ago by the Parole Board, I have been straining every sinew to oppose Pitchfork’s release and have been pleading with the Justice Secretary and his team at the Ministry of Justice for their intervention.
I cannot emphasise enough how grateful I am that the Justice Secretary has acknowledged my constituents concerns and noted the widespread anger across the country with the Parole Board’s disgraceful decision.”
Alberto added, “Colin Pitchfork’s egregious crimes cast a shadow over my constituency in South Leicestershire and are known throughout the country for the way in which Pitchfork callously raped and horrifically murdered those two innocent teenage girls, Lynda and Dawn. The national outrage following the Parole Board’s decision a few weeks is proof that many people remain haunted by Pitchfork’s abhorrent and heinous crimes. He mercilessly ended the lives of Lynda and Dawn in the most gruesome way imaginable; it is clear to many that Pitchfork still represents a very real and present danger to the public and I am pleased that the Parole Board will be forced to reconsider its flawed decision. The Parole Board now has a final opportunity to get it right; it should listen very carefully to the vast majority of decent law abiding people in our country and keep this vile sexual offending psychopath behind bars where he belongs”.
