Colin Pitchfork, Murder and the Risk of Reoffending

 Much as I hate to praise the present government for anything, I welcome the Lord Chancellor's decision to ask the Parole Board to reconsider their decision to release Colin Pitchfork (seen above). The Parole Board's decision to free Pitchfork was met with great anger and opposition - understandably so, as Pitchfork is a convicted double murderer. As is well known, Pitchfork received a life sentence in 1988 after admitting to raping and murdering two 15-year-old girls, Lynda Mann (murdered 1983) and Dawn Ashworth (murdered 1986). He has the distinction of being the first person in Britain to be convicted of rape and murder, thanks to the use of DNA profiling.
Arrested in September 1987, he owned up to the two murders and rapes, as well as to exposing himself to over 1,000 other women. His sentence of 30 years was reduced to 28 years in 2009, and Pitchfork was released on licence in 2021. After two months, he was back in prison for 'approaching young women', in a violation of his licence conditions. 

It is not clear as yet what the Parole Board's decision will be, but, speaking personally, I hope that Pitchfork will never be released. I have seen a number of articles about Pitchfork the murderer, but I would like to look at what is known about his long-dead victims. Lest we forget.

Lynda Mann was 15 when she was murdered on November 25, 1983, in her home town of Narborough, Leicestershire, on her way home from babysitting. Her parents and others searched all night for her when she did not return home. Next morning, she was found dead. She had been raped and strangled on a lonely footpath, known to locals as the "Black Pad".
Pitchfork had murdered Lynda after dropping his wife off at an evening class and - sickeningly - while his baby son slept on the back seat of his car. The Sun comments here: 

"After sexually assaulting and strangling the schoolgirl, the killer drove home and put his baby to bed."

If not for Pitchfork, Lynda would be about 55 years old now.

Pitchfork struck again, three years later. On 31 July 1986, Dawn Ashworth left her home in Leicestershire to visit a friend. Her parents had expected her home at 9:30pm.
She failed to return, so her parents reported her missing to the police. Two days later, her body was found in a wood near a footpath called "Ten Pound Lake".
Like Lynda, Dawn had been viciously beaten, raped and strangled.

Had she not fallen foul of Pitchfork, Dawn would also have been in her 50s today.

Understandably enough, the relatives of these two girls, like many of us, are outraged at the possibility of Pitchfork being released - especially since Pitchfork was previously freed in 2021. Two months after his release, he was arrested and sent back to jail after he approached a lone woman in breach of his licence conditions.

I must here acknowledge the efforts of media outlets and individuals whom I have often disparaged and condemned. I have previously spoken unkindly of Nick Ferrari of LBC and have expressed my contempt for the tabloid press on numerous occasions ( and will again, no doubt ). However, I thank them for alerting me to this matter which - surely? - transcends political affiliations. After all, be ye left, right or centre, murder is still murder.

But is it right to say that Pitchfork cannot be stopped from reoffending, as has been suggested? It may be that he has simply contrived an elaborate cover to deceive the Parole Board (and others). Anyone who doubts the fact that he can be manipulative and highly cunning should watch THIS VIDEO. Here, he can be seen as plausible enough to convince another man to take a DNA test in his place during the police investigation. He was also skilful enough to substitute this man's photo on his passport - no easy task. He may well have spent his time in prison researching ways to deceive the authorities.

And yes, there is always the possibility that he will kill again. As I have noted on many occasions, mental health patients with histories of lethal violence often do commit more murders. As for "ordinary" killers, statistics give no comfort.

In 2012, the BBC reported that:

"Over 30 killers killed again after being freed from prison between 2000/1 and 2010/11, statistics show.
Figures released by the Home Office show 29 people with homicide convictions went on to commit murder and six went on to commit manslaughter.
Of those 29 murderers, 13 previously committed murder and 16 manslaughter.
The government says it does all it can to protect the public from offenders "but sadly risk can never be eliminated entirely".

Well, that's reassuring - is it not? It makes me wonder if all repeat/serial murderers should be classified as having mental health issues. But I digress.

The Daily Mail, in 2021, reported:

"Dozens of killers, rapists and paedophiles released from prison have been given second life sentences for further offences. Over the past decade 129 criminals who were jailed for life have been handed the same sentence again".

Of course, none of this means that Pitchfork would kill again, should he be released. There is a possibility that he has changed. Dr Scott A. Bonn, in "Psychology Today", asserts:

"There are serial killers who stop murdering altogether before ever being caught or killed.
Although not completely understood, in such instances, there typically are events or circumstances that occur in the offenders’ lives that inhibit them from continuing a life of murder. These events might include an increased participation in family life, substitute sexual gratification, an alternate method of experiencing power/control, or another diversion".

And of course, active surveillance by the authorities and the wider community would also help in Pitchfork's case.

 However, we must remember that should Colin Pitchfork murder once more, it will be his third time killing, while for his victim, or victims, it will be their first time dead.