Colin Pitchfork: Double schoolgirl murderer can be released

A double child killer who was the first murderer to be convicted using DNA evidence can be released, the Parole Board has confirmed.

Colin Pitchfork, 61, was jailed for life for raping and murdering 15-year-olds Lynda Mann and Dawn Ashworth in Leicestershire in the 1980s.

Pitchfork has spent 33 years in prison - he was last denied parole in 2018.

The Parole Board said it was satisfied Pitchfork was suitable for release, which is subject to conditions.

"We can confirm that a panel of the Parole Board has directed the release of Colin Pitchfork following an oral hearing," a Parole Board spokesman said.

"Parole reviews are undertaken thoroughly and with extreme care. Protecting the public is our number one priority."

The decision is provisional for 21 days, the spokesman added.

A source close to Justice Secretary Robert Buckland said the government would take legal advice to explore the use of the "reconsideration mechanism".

The Parole Board Reconsideration Mechanism, introduced in 2019, gives people the right to ask for a decision to be looked at again if they believe it was "procedurally unfair" or "irrational".

South Leicestershire MP Alberto Costa, who had met with the Parole Board over Pitchfork's case, told the BBC he was "appalled" at the news.

"Even though some 30 years have passed, this isn't the sort of crime one can ever forget," he said.

"My constituents remember the victims, people who went to school with these victims.

"It would be immoral, wrong and frankly dangerous to release this disgraceful murderer of two children."

Speaking to the BBC when Pitchfork was last denied parole, Lynda's mother Kath Eastwood said: "The Parole Board have made the right decision [and] put the families of the victims first and listened to us before the murderer.

"Let us hope this continues."

Pitchfork's parole hearing was held via video link on 22 March and included evidence from his probation office and a prison service psychologist.

The board then considered the evidence along with an examination of the "robustness" of the risk management plan before concluding its review on 25 May.

His release is subject to a number of licence conditions.

These include living at a designated address, taking part in probation supervision, wearing an electronic tag, taking part in lie detector tests and having to disclose what vehicles he uses and who he speaks to, with particular limits on contact with children.

He will also be subject to a curfew, have restrictions on using technology and limits on where he can go.

Follow BBC East Midlands on Facebook, on Twitter, or on Instagram. Send your story ideas to eastmidsnews@bbc.co.uk.