Colin Pitchfork - can be released from prison

[KrefelderFox666]

3 hours ago, silebyboy said:

Crimes like his justify the death sentence IMO, and at the very least life in prison with no chance of parole. 

I have always been of the mindset that a death sentence is less punishment than life in prison with no parole. Look at all those who commit suicide while being sentenced or in prison, they know they can't face being locked up for however many years only to die in prison, they would rather die now. Let them suffer behind bars for the remainder of their life.

[KrefelderFox666]

3 hours ago, Stuntman_Mike said:

I'm all for rehabilitation and for people having second chances, but not when the risk is this great and especially with the offences he committed. 

Agreed. Some offenders simply make mistakes or were in the wrong place at the wrong time or were simply never given a proper upbringing and thus turned into crime. A lot of those people can be helped and changed and everyone should be given the opportunity to give back something. However, there are certain people who will never change and just have crime inside them, no matter what help/rehabilitation they get. This guy on the outside seems like one of them and therefore should probably remain locked up.

 

It's a really difficult balancing act and I can see both sides of the story. The victims families may never have peace unless he is locked up forever/dead. Or they may be more forgiving. However, I just don't see anyone forgiving someone like this person.

[outfoxed77]

I can assure you the family are certainly not forgiving of his crimes.

Edited 7 June 2021 by outfoxed77

[String fellow]

Apparently, Pitchfork has been in an open prison in Gloucestershire for some time, and was spotted shopping unsupervised in Bristol 4 years ago. He's obviously curried favour with the Parole Board with good behaviour, and become an 'expert' at transcribing printed music into braille for the blind. He's also changed his surname to Thorpe (the second half of the name of the area where he carried out his evil deeds). Basically, he's alive and kicking, unlike his victims.

[PAULCFC]

2 minutes ago, outfoxed77 said:

I can assure the family are certainly not forgiving of his crimes.

And the two familys are the people we should feel sorry for.Disgusting decision.

[Captain...]

I believe in rehabilitation and there is no limit to that. Anyone can be rehabilitated for anything. I have no knowledge of Pitchfork, now or then, I have no idea if he is still a threat, he committed a horrendous crime he has been punished for it. People who have greater knowledge than any of us on here have passed their professional judgment. I have no knowledge to suggest they are wrong. We can't get up in arms every time a horrendous criminal gets released, rehabilitation is a key part of a civilized society. Checks are made and safeguards are put in place to protect the public, we have to trust they are sufficient. 

[outfoxed77]

7 minutes ago, Captain... said:

I believe in rehabilitation and there is no limit to that. Anyone can be rehabilitated for anything. I have no knowledge of Pitchfork, now or then, I have no idea if he is still a threat, he committed a horrendous crime he has been punished for it. People who have greater knowledge than any of us on here have passed their professional judgment. I have no knowledge to suggest they are wrong. We can't get up in arms every time a horrendous criminal gets released, rehabilitation is a key part of a civilized society. Checks are made and safeguards are put in place to protect the public, we have to trust they are sufficient. 

I trust you would have no problem with this man living next door to yourself or any of your family then?

[Captain...]

11 minutes ago, outfoxed77 said:

I trust you would have no problem with this man living next door to yourself or any of your family then?

I know nothing about him, other than his crimes, so it severely clouds any of our judgement. That is largely my point.

 

Nobody in their right mind would choose to live anywhere near to Pitchfork, when the only thing you know about him is that killed and raped 2 girls. It is a horrendous crime. To be honest I can't even imagine what it would take to rehabilitate someone capable of that. This is why decisions are not made by you or me. The public view is very narrow, which is why we employ professionals to make them.

[Paninistickers]

45 minutes ago, Captain... said:

I believe in rehabilitation and there is no limit to that. Anyone can be rehabilitated for anything. I have no knowledge of Pitchfork, now or then, I have no idea if he is still a threat, he committed a horrendous crime he has been punished for it. People who have greater knowledge than any of us on here have passed their professional judgment. I have no knowledge to suggest they are wrong. We can't get up in arms every time a horrendous criminal gets released, rehabilitation is a key part of a civilized society. Checks are made and safeguards are put in place to protect the public, we have to trust they are sufficient. 

I too have a very personal interest in rehab of offenders. But this is a difficult one to swallow.

 

Also, quite concerning was years ago a mate of mine's dad was a prison officer at Leicester prison. I presume pitchfork was on remand there. My mate told.me his Dad was always unsettled that Pitchfork was amiable and agreeable and not like the normal.crminals as you  could have a 'normal' convo with him.  .....i wonder if he's quite capable of manipulating a.parole board if he comes.across as rational and straightforward....something he's obviously always had in his locker rather than a new.persona learnt through rehab.

[Captain...]

2 minutes ago, Paninistickers said:

I too have a very personal interest in rehab of offenders. But this is a difficult one to swallow.

 

Also, quite concerning was years ago a mate of mine's dad was a prison officer at Leicester prison. I presume pitchfork was on remand there. My mate told.me his Dad was always unsettled that Pitchfork was amiable and agreeable and not like the normal.crminals as you  could have a 'normal' convo with him.  .....i wonder if he's quite capable of manipulating a.parole board if he comes.across as rational and straightforward....something he's obviously always had in his locker rather than a new.persona learnt through rehab.

I have no personal interest, it is just a general belief that as a society we should aim to rehabilitate even the most disgusting criminals, but the only way to do that is to accept them when they are rehabilitated.

 

I have no opinion on Pitchfork other than his crimes were horrendous. Speculating on his ability to manipulate a parole board doesn't change that. He has been assessed by professionally trained people who have closely monitored him for years. You just have to trust they've got it right.

 

 

[Manwell Pablo]

3 hours ago, Buce said:

 

I believe the law which allows for a whole-life term was enacted just one day after his conviction, which is why he wasn't given one.

That ain’t right is it Buce, otherwise Hindley and Brady wouldn’t have full life.

[Buce]

27 minutes ago, Manwell Pablo said:

That ain’t right is it Buce, otherwise Hindley and Brady wouldn’t have full life.

 I think you must be mistaken as the Whole Life tariff was introduced in 1983

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_prisoners_with_whole-life_orders

 

Reading this it seems that prior to 1983 a judge couldn't impose a Whole Life term but the Home Secretary could.

Edited 7 June 2021 by Buce

[Manwell Pablo]

39 minutes ago, Buce said:

 I think you must be mistaken as the Whole Life tariff was introduced in 1983

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_prisoners_with_whole-life_orders

 

Reading this it seems that prior to 1983 a judge couldn't impose a Whole Life term but the Home Secretary could.

Could still bloody do it though couldn’t they 😂 mind you with laws changing you can see how he slipped through the net.

[Strokes]

It probably should have been frightening growing up in the area, I can remember the tension and the schools being locked down over scare stories but I was blissfully unaware of the true horror, now looking back can understand now why they were all so on edge.

I did live on the same street he lived on in littlethorpe, not at the same time though and I knew his son Carl growing up (poor lad).

 

[worth_the_wait]

Parole boards talk about "rehabilitation" and not being "a danger to the public".   But this is only half the story.

 

The other half of it, is that most people believe that if you rape and murder a schoolgirl ... you shouldn't be freed ever.  Full stop.  

Nothing to do with supposedly being "rehabilitated"  or "no longer being a danger to the public" or having "served your time".

 

And Pitchfork raped and murdered twice, on separate occasions.

 

Their families deserve him to be locked up for the rest of his natural life

[Strokes]

26 minutes ago, worth_the_wait said:

Parole boards talk about "rehabilitation" and not being "a danger to the public".   But this is only half the story.

 

The other half of it, is that most people believe that if you rape and murder a schoolgirl ... you shouldn't be freed ever.  Full stop.  

Nothing to do with supposedly being "rehabilitated"  or "no longer being a danger to the public" or having "served your time".

 

And Pitchfork raped and murdered twice, on separate occasions.

 

Their families deserve him to be locked up for the rest of his natural life

If you aren’t going to rehabilitate prisoners on life, why bother keep them alive?

 

[promised land]

18 minutes ago, Strokes said:

If you aren’t going to rehabilitate prisoners on life, why bother keep them alive?

 

Some say it’s more punishment than executing them, I think the conclusion is we won’t all agree on this, some want him to rot in prison, some think he’s been a good boy for 30 years and is allowed a second chance.

 

One things certain, I would guess his conditions will mean he never sets foot in this county again.

 

Local MP isn’t impressed with the decision it seems.

 

 

[Nick]

He’s been in an open prison for four years now. The conditions he will have to abide by are stringent. Can’t help but feel sorry for the victims families and friends. Atrocious crimes. 

[fox_up_north]

Without going into detail, I have some first/ second-hand experience of what these kinds of crimes do to families and victims. I've had professional help for it.

 

Nothing can ever really be done to bring family or loved ones back but I can say, hand on heart, I am 100% in favour of the death penalty in these kinds of crimes. I've briefly worked with young offenders and ex offenders. There's a world of difference between dealers and premeditated murder, like this. Even a gang killing with teenagers and knives is different. This kind of man, to me, needs to be quietly killed and buried in an unmarked grave, where his family can go - if they wish and I wouldn't hold it against them. No good can come from keeping these kinds of people alive. 

[worth_the_wait]

7 hours ago, Strokes said:

If you aren’t going to rehabilitate prisoners on life, why bother keep them alive?

 

A very good question ... and up until the mid 1960's we didn't bother keeping them alive. 

 

They stood on a trapdoor.  They had a noose put around their neck and your friendly executioner pulled a lever, and that was the end of that.

 

The victim's family never had to worry about them killing again, or coming back to haunt them.   And I think Mr Pierrepoint would confirm that it generally wiped the smile off the murderer's face, so most people would've felt justice had been properly admisistered.

 

Obviously there were some potential downsides to capital punishment, which have been well documented.   I can't see capital punishment coming back to the UK anytime soon.  But you never know what the future holds.

 

 

[leicsmac]

24 minutes ago, worth_the_wait said:

A very good question ... and up until the mid 1960's we didn't bother keeping them alive. 

 

They stood on a trapdoor.  They had a noose put around their neck and your friendly executioner pulled a lever, and that was the end of that.

 

The victim's family never had to worry about them killing again, or coming back to haunt them.   And I think Mr Pierrepoint would confirm that it generally wiped the smile off the murderer's face, so most people would've felt justice had been properly admisistered.

 

Obviously there were some potential downsides to capital punishment, which have been well documented.   I can't see capital punishment coming back to the UK anytime soon.  But you never know what the future holds.

 

 

...."potential"?

 

Yeah, I suppose that could be said.

[Babylon]

Didn’t you read, he did a course in prison... he’s not a threat now. 

[promised land]

16 minutes ago, Babylon said:

Didn’t you read, he did a course in prison... he’s not a threat now. 

But according to a lot on here he deserves a second chance

 

To all those who think he’s changed and has a right to be free again I put this to you, those 2 15 year old school girls that were raped and murdered by him, innocent girls, do they not deserve a second chance for something they did not do?

 

But you’re all saying a convicted murderer who has served 30 years has changed and does.

 

People go on about capital punishment being wrong and miscarriage of justice but you’re totally forgetting the victims lost their lives through no fault of their owns and ones like him are guilty of the crime. Yet he will be walking the streets in a matter of weeks.

[grobyfox1990]

Truly disgraceful. Should never see the light of day

[Captain...]

42 minutes ago, promised land said:

But according to a lot on here he deserves a second chance

 

To all those who think he’s changed and has a right to be free again I put this to you, those 2 15 year old school girls that were raped and murdered by him, innocent girls, do they not deserve a second chance for something they did not do?

 

But you’re all saying a convicted murderer who has served 30 years has changed and does.

 

People go on about capital punishment being wrong and miscarriage of justice but you’re totally forgetting the victims lost their lives through no fault of their owns and ones like him are guilty of the crime. Yet he will be walking the streets in a matter of weeks.

I think you're missing the point. Nobody has said Colin Pitchfork definitely deserves to be freed. 

 

Nobody here would be campaigning for his release had he been denied parole. The only thing I or anyone else has said us that everyone deserves the chance to be rehabilitated and it is a blanket belief on all people and all crimes. That doesn't mean every rapist and murderer should be released, that doesn't mean Colin Pitchfork should be released. It just means we believe that as a principle of a civilised society all people can be rehabilitated. We should attempt to rehabilitate all people, but we should never ever release someone who still poses a threat to the public. I have no basis to say Pitchfork does or doesn't and neither does anyone else, so I have to trust the judgements of those trained in making those decisions and not my gut reaction, which is he should have been castrated and publicly hung 30 years ago.