Double child killer Colin Pitchfork is to be released.
The Parole Board said it is “no longer necessary for the protection of the public” to keep the rapist in prison.
It said in its decision: “The prisoner had committed shocking, serious offences, causing immeasurable harm to his victims.
“However, the Parole Board’s role, as required by law, is to undertake a risk assessment. The panel noted that Mr Pitchfork has been in prison for a very long time. His behaviour for almost all of that time has not caused any concern.
“He has made constructive use of his time and is now 63 years old. In general, age tends to reduce risk.
“Mr Pitchfork has completed many courses satisfactorily and the evidence before the panel demonstrated that he had learnt the lessons that he had been taught and had worked out how to apply them in practice.
“Accordingly, the panel determined that it was no longer necessary for the protection of the public for Mr Pitchfork to remain confined and thereby directed his release.”
Pitchfork was recalled to jail in November 2021 for breaching licence conditions just two months after previously being released.
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