Man who raped and murdered two girls in the 1980s is freed after 33 years in jail

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A man who was sentenced to life in prison for the rape and murder of two children has been released from prison after 33 years.

 

Colin Pitchfork was given a life sentence in 1988 with a minimum of 30 years after strangling two 15-year-olds, Lynda Mann and Dawn Ashworth, in Leicestershire in 1983 and 1986 respectively.

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Man who raped and murdered two girls in the 1980s is freed after 33 years in jail

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At the time he committed his first crime, Pitchfork was a 22-year-old married father-of-two.

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Pitchfork, who is now in his early 60s, pleaded guilty to two murders, two rapes, two indecent assaults and conspiracy to pervert the course of justice and became the first person in the UK to be convicted on the basis of DNA evidence.

Reacting to his release, Dawn Ashworth’s mother Barbara said: “Well it was on the books that he was going to be released, but I don’t think he should be breathing the same air as us.

 

“It goes without saying that life should have meant life in his case, because he said he was guilty of the offences, the murders of both the girls… and he did a lot more besides.”

Asked if she was surprised Pitchfork had become eligible for release, Ms Ashworth told PA: “Yes, I think so. They did say that if it had been done today he wouldn’t have been let out.

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“But that doesn’t excuse anything. I don’t have my daughter back or any of the hopes and dreams that she had in her life.

 

“She was my only daughter and you live your life through them and their future – but that was taken away.”

 

Pitchfork was previously denied freedom in 2016 and 2018, and was then moved to an undisclosed open prison.

 

Man who raped and murdered two girls in the 1980s is freed after 33 years in jail

 

However, in June, the Parole Board ruled Pitchfork had made progress and was “suitable for release”.

 

Justice Secretary Robert Buckland asked the board for a “reconsideration” of the decision to release Colin – which he is permitted to do within 21 days – but the appeal was refused.

A Ministry of Justice spokesperson said: “Our heartfelt sympathies remain with the families of Lynda Mann and Dawn Ashworth following the independent Parole Board’s decision to release Colin Pitchfork.

 

“Public safety is our top priority, which is why he is subject to some of the strictest licence conditions ever set and will remain under supervision for the rest of his life.

 

“If he breaches these conditions, he faces an immediate return to prison.”

 

Following his release, he will have to meet all standard licence conditions, have regular meetings with his probation officer and have extensive additional conditions placed on him.

 

Some of the requirements include protecting the victims’ families from unwanted contact with him, regular lie detector examinations, and wearing an electronic tag.

 

Pitchfork will also be placed on the sex offenders’ register, live at a designated address, and will have to disclose what vehicles he uses and who he speaks to, while facing particular limits on contact with children.

 

A curfew, restrictions on technology use and limitations on where he can go will be applied as well.

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