Double child rapist and murderer Colin Pitchfork has successfully challenged a decision to keep him locked up and will now face a fresh parole hearing.

It comes after the Parole Board said in December he was too much of a risk to be released and must stay in prison.

He was jailed for life with a minimum term of 30 years in 1988, later reduced to 28 years, for raping and strangling 15-year-olds Lynda Mann and Dawn Ashworth in 1983 and 1986 respectively.

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

The Parole Board said Pitchfork had applied for the decision in December to be reconsidered and this had been granted.

It means he will face another parole hearing with a different panel of board members to decide if he can be freed from jail.

In a statement, the Parole Board said: “The decision refusing Mr Pitchfork’s release was eligible for reconsideration under the Parole Board Rules.

Abdul Ezedi: Police resume hunt for chemical attack suspect after finding two ‘unexpected’ bodies

Labour candidate ‘fell for online conspiracy theory’ about Hamas attacks, shadow minister says

Jagtar Singh Johal: Brother of imprisoned Briton tells David Cameron ‘his life is in your hands’

“This meant that the panel’s decision was provisional and that either Mr Pitchfork or the secretary of state could make an application for reconsideration on the grounds that the decision not to release Mr Pitchfork had been irrational, procedurally unfair and/or there had been an error of law.”

Pitchfork’s challenge was successful because the parole panel “had a duty to take the prison offender manager’s recommendation into account and to give adequate reasons for any disagreement with that recommendation” but the review concluded this had not happened.

The “complete re-hearing” will take place in due course, the Parole Board said.

“Release can only be directed by the Parole Board if the new panel is satisfied that it is no longer necessary for the protection of the public that Mr Pitchfork remain confined in prison,” it added.

“Mr Pitchfork has, and will continue to, remain in prison until this case has fully concluded.”

Related posts:

UK and US taskforce to thrash out resumption of transatlantic travel Football fans split on whether taking a knee helps tackle racism – survey UEFA opposed plans for Three Lions to be performed before Euros final, says Frank Skinner ‘There’s a big wave coming’: Omicron warning issued as COVID rules tightened in Wales New stamps shine light on vital female roles in Second World War Woman left with potentially life-changing injury after dog attack King Charles to lead Remembrance Day service for first time as monarch – as he follows in Queen’s footsteps Number of low paid workers in UK falls – but there’s a ‘long way to go’ on job standards – report Sunak apologises to LGBT veterans for armed forces ban UK could be complicit in Gaza war crimes, Tory MP warns Jockey Graham Lee in intensive care with neck injury after fall King to lead Remembrance Day service at Cenotaph hours after protests resulted in hundreds of arrests