Killer's parole hearing private due to prison behaviour claims

Colin Pitchfork was released from prison in 2021 after 33 years but later recalled

Double child killer Colin Pitchfork's next parole hearing will be held in private because of allegations about his behaviour in prison.

Pitchfork, 64, was jailed for life for raping and killing 15-year-old girls Lynda Mann and Dawn Ashworth in Leicestershire in 1983 and 1986.

The Parole Board said police had decided to take no further action against Pitchfork over the matters because they did not have the support of his alleged victim.

It is unclear what the “fresh allegations” of bad behaviour include.

Parole Board chairman Judge Peter Rook KC said the panel was "under a duty to investigate" the matters, adding that "the transcript of a bodyworn video" has been placed in Pitchfork's dossier.

Previously announcing the decision to not have a public hearing at the beginning of July, the panel apologised for the "increased stress" on the families of the victims.

Dawn and Lynda were killed by Pitchfork in the 1980s

Then aged 27, Pitchfork became the first man to be convicted in the UK using DNA profiling, and was handed a minimum jail term of 30 years, later reduced to 28 years.

He was initially released from prison in September 2021 but was back behind bars two months later after it was decided he had breached his parole conditions after Pitchfork disclosed he had approached a lone female.

In June last year, the Parole Board found the decision to recall Pitchfork to prison was flawed and said his detention was no longer necessary for public safety.

But this ruling was blocked by the justice secretary at that time, Alex Chalk, who called for the decision to release Pitchfork to be reviewed.

Although Pitchfork lost his latest bid for freedom in December, earlier this year he successfully challenged the ruling to keep him behind bars.

It means the Pitchfork will face a fresh parole hearing, which could see him released from jail.

A three-day face-to-face hearing at the prison where Pitchfork is held will be held on 10 October and on 14 and 15 November.

A spokesman for the Parole Board said previously: "We would like to apologise again for the increased stress that both the adjournment and the subsequent public hearing decision may have on the victims.

"Victim involvement is a valued part of the parole process, and the victims have been invited to observe some of the private proceedings."

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