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It's been announced by the Parole Board that child killer and rapist Colin Pitchfork has been granted parole and should be released from prison.

Pitchfork was jailed for life for raping and strangling two 15-year-old girls, Lynda Mann and Dawn Ashworth, in Leicestershire in 1983 and 1986.

Pitchfork is now in his 60s and was released in 2021, before being arrested and sent back to prison two months later.

Following a hearing held in private in April, the Parole Board has decided Pitchfork can be released.

In its decision, the Parole Board said a 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".

Lynn Garner is a friend of Dawn Ashworth's mum Barbara.

In a statement this afternoon, the Ministry of Justice has told us...

鈥淭his will be a very upsetting decision for the families of Lynda Mann and Dawn Ashworth and our heartfelt sympathies remain with them.

鈥淧itchfork will remain in prison while the Lord Chancellor looks extremely carefully at whether to ask the Parole Board to reconsider its decision.

鈥淥ur number one priority is public protection which is why we are reforming the parole system and introducing a ministerial check to keep the most dangerous offenders behind bars."

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