Double killer Colin Pitchfork’s parole hearing to be held in private

The next parole hearing for double child killer Colin Pitchfork will no longer be held in public due to “unforeseen developments, including new allegations”.

Pitchfork, 64, was jailed for life in 1988 after raping and strangling 15-year-olds Lynda Mann and Dawn Ashworth in Leicestershire in 1983 and 1986.

The parole board said Thursday that the charges were “relative to relatively recent conduct.”

He apologized for the “increased stress” on the victims’ families.

Pitchfork, then 27, became the first criminal to be convicted in Britain using DNA profiling and received a minimum prison sentence 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 breaching his license conditions when he approached a lone woman while collecting rubbish.

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

But that ruling was blocked by the justice secretary at the time, Alex Chalk, who called for a review of the decision to release Pitchfork.

Although Pitchfork lost its most recent bid for freedom in December, it successfully appealed the decision to keep him behind bars earlier this year.

A Parole Board spokesman said: “A panel of the Parole Board held a directions hearing for Colin Pitchfork on Wednesday 10 July.

“At those instructions, the panel heard and both sides discussed how best to receive evidence on new allegations in the case. This included presenting new material to the jury relating to risk.

“We regret that following material changes in circumstances, there had to be a change in the decision in relation to the nature of the meeting, which will no longer take place publicly.

“It was caused by unpredictable developments, including new allegations of relatively recent conduct.

“A copy of the decision of the public hearing, made by the chair of the panel using his delegated authority, will be published on the website of the Parole Board when available.

“We would like to apologize again for the increased stress that both the postponement and subsequent decision of the public hearing may have on victims.

“Victim involvement is an important part of the parole process and victims have been invited to observe some of the private proceedings.

“The private oral hearing will resume in due course.”