Julie Bindel Julie Bindel

Colin Pitchfork should die in jail

(Getty images)

Colin Pitchfork, the child rapist and murderer who was sentenced to life in prison in 1988, will soon be a free man. 

On 31 November 1983, Lynda Mann was raped and strangled by Pitchfork in Leicestershire; on 31 July 1986, Dawn Ashworth was raped and strangled by him in a neighbouring village. Both girls were just 15. 

The pathologist who examined Dawn’s body, which had been hidden under branches in a field, said it showed signs of a ‘brutal sexual assault’. 

Pitchfork, who left his baby son in his car asleep when he raped and murdered Lynda Manns, showed no sign of remorse when caught. 

I don’t trust the police and probation service to correctly monitor Pitchfork

Pitchfork had a history of violence against women. In 1979, he forced a 16-year-old girl into a field and sexually assaulted her before fleeing when he thought someone was approaching. He also orally raped a 16-year-old girl while threatening her with a screwdriver and a knife in October 1985. Pitchfork also admitted to having exposed his penis to more than 1,000 girls and women.

Is this really a man who should be released from prison?

For the most part, prisoners who have served their sentence and can demonstrate their successful rehabilitation should be considered for release. It is crucial that those who denounce their crimes and show that they are no longer a risk to the public are encouraged to contribute to society. Our criminal justice system is built on the principles of tolerance and forgiveness.

I co-founded Justice for Women, a feminist law reform group, in 1990 in order to support women who had been convicted of murder for defending themselves against violent men. Through this work I have met the best of prisoner’s rights campaigners and have come to understand the monstrosity that is our prison system.

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