[News] Freed child killer Colin Pitchfork goes into hiding over fears of vigilante attacks

Colin Pitchfork, the child killer who was freed after 33 years in prison, has gone straight into hiding over fears of vigilante attacks.

He was given a life sentence in 1988 with a minimum of 30 years after strangling two 15-year-olds, Lynda Mann and Dawn Ashworth, in Leicestershire in 1983 and 1986 respectively.

At the time he committed his first crime, Pitchfork was a 22-year-old married father-of-two.

Pitchfork, who is now in his early 60s, pleaded guilty to two murders, two rapes, two indecent assaults, and conspiracy to pervert the course of justice and became the first person in the UK to be convicted on the basis of DNA evidence.

He was freed on Wednesday, September 2, and went straight into hiding over fears of vigilante attacks.

Despite going into hiding, the murderer will be subjected to 43 tough licence conditions, 36 more than the average freed con — to protect the public.

He was driven from jail by officials to a bail hostel. But the location of his new home was being kept tightly under wraps last night to keep him safe.

Sources said Pitchfork’s crimes, the rape and murder of two 15-year-old girls meant he could be targeted. One said: “His notoriety puts him at risk.”