Justice Secretary Alex Chalk has demanded an urgent meeting with the Parole Board over child killer Colin Pitchfork’s latest bid for freedom.
Concern is growing over another “flawed decision” after Pitchfork successfully appealed a ruling to keep him behind bars.
And Barbara Ashworth, the mother of one of the killer's victims, said “I’d throw away the key” as she revealed the fresh anguish she is facing.
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A Government source said: "It is deeply concerning that having made one flawed decision, the Parole Board have made another, causing immense distress to the families of Lynda Mann and Dawn Ashworth.
"They are again left with no certainty and the Lord Chancellor has sought an urgent meeting with the Parole Board."
Fears are intensifying child murderer Colin Pitchfork could be released (Image: Handout)
Dawn Ashworth's mother has called for Colin Pitchfork's key to be thrown away (Image: Handout)
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Pitchfork was jailed for life with a minimum term of 30 years in 1988, later reduced to 28 years, for raping and strangling 15-year-olds Lynda Mann and Dawn Ashworth in 1983 and 1986 respectively.
Mrs Ashworth, the mother of 15-year-old Dawn Ashworth, said after learning of the fresh hearing: "Words fail me now.
"He seems to want to fight no matter what.
"I just don't know where to go next to be honest.
"He's killed two schoolgirls. I know what I'd do, I'd throw away the key."
The Parole Board met last year to decide whether he could be released and ruled in December he should not be freed.
But Pitchfork applied for the decision to be reconsidered and this has been granted, the Parole Board said on Monday.
It means he will face another parole hearing with a different panel of board members to decide if he can be freed from jail.
Conservative MP for South Leicestershire Alberto Costa, who has been campaigning to keep Colin Pitchfork behind bars, accused the Parole Board of having an "utter inability" to properly deal with a "dangerous man".
He said: "The independent Parole Board's decision - to accept Pitchfork's request for a reconsideration of its original decision on the grounds argued by Pitchfork that it is irrational not to release him - is itself an irrational decision. Once again, the Parole Board is demonstrating its utter inability to appropriately deal with this dangerous man who we must never forget brutally raped and strangled two young women."
Mr Costa said the Parole Board rules are "so opaque" that in effect Pitchfork has a "limitless" amount of appeals on every decision that the body makes which "cannot be rational."
Every time the Parole Board rules against him, Pitchfork can appeal, Mr Costa said, claiming this was "getting to the point of madness".
The MP plans to apply for Pitchfork's hearing to take place in public in a bid to ensure proper scrutiny of Parole Board decision processes as well as intending to raise his concerns in the Commons.
Parole Board chairwoman Caroline Corby previously rejected a similar request which meant the earlier hearing took place behind closed doors. Mr Costa is also due to send out a survey to each of his constituents asking their thoughts on the Parole Board.
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In a statement, the Parole Board said: "The decision refusing Mr Pitchfork's release was eligible for reconsideration under the Parole Board Rules.
"This meant that the panel's decision was provisional and that either Mr Pitchfork or the Secretary of State could make an application for reconsideration on the grounds that the decision not to release Mr Pitchfork had been irrational, procedurally unfair and/or there had been an error of law.
"Mr Pitchfork made an application for reconsideration in December 2023 and this was considered and granted by a reconsideration member of the Parole Board in February 2024."
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