Murderer and child rapist Colin Pitchfork turned down for parole

Murderer and child rapist Colin Pitchfork is too much of a risk to be released and must stay in prison, according to the Parole Board.

He's currently serving life for raping and strangling 15-year-olds Lynda Mann and Dawn Ashworth in 1983 and 1986.

Pitchfork was the first man convicted in the UK using DNA evidence.

He was freed in September 2021 but recalled after two months when he approached a lone woman while litter picking.

The Parole Board said this summer that the decision to lock him up again was flawed and no longer necessary for public safety.

However, the justice secretary intervened to stop him being released.

The Parole Board has again been considering whether he can be freed, but today said it had decided it would be too risky.

It also said he shouldn't be allowed to move to an open prison.

The panel said: "After considering the circumstances of his offending, the progress made while in custody and on licence, and the evidence presented at the hearing, the panel was not satisfied that release at this point would be safe for the protection of the public."

It said Pitchfork needed to "complete further work to address the identified risk factors in his case".

Pitchfork was sentenced to a minimum of 30 years in 1988 - later cut to 28 years.

He could be freed in two years' time however, when the Parole Board will look at his case again.