Offender Record · OFF-2026-143
Colin Pitchfork
Also known as David Thorpe
Sex
Male
Race
White
Born
1960
Custody
Incarcerated
States
GB
Distinguishing featuresNone noted in public records
Custody
Sentenced 22 January 1988 to life imprisonment, minimum term 30 years (reduced to 28 years on appeal, 2009). Released on conditional license 1 September 2021; recalled to prison 19 November 2021 for breaching license conditions. Parole refused October 2025.
This record documents arrests, charges and convictions reported by courts, law enforcement agencies and news organizations. Every statement is tied to a cited source with an archived copy. A charge is an accusation, not proof of guilt; a person charged is presumed innocent unless convicted. Where a record says named by police, no charge was ever filed: the record rests on a law enforcement agency's public identification of the deceased person, cited below. Not guilty by reason of insanity means the court found the act proven but the person not criminally responsible. Solve the Case does not allege that this person committed any offense beyond what the cited records state, and this record is not a suggestion that the person is connected to any unsolved case. How records are built, corrected and removed.
Summary of the record
Colin Pitchfork was convicted in 1988 of the rape and murder of two 15-year-old girls, Lynda Mann and Dawn Ashworth, in Narborough and Enderby, Leicestershire, England, in November 1983 and July 1986. He pleaded guilty to both murders, two counts of rape, two counts of indecent assault, and conspiracy to pervert the course of justice. He was sentenced to life imprisonment with a 30-year minimum term, reduced to 28 years on appeal in 2009. He was released on conditional license in September 2021 but recalled to prison in November 2021 for breaching license conditions. As of October 2025, he remains incarcerated with parole denied.
Documented Arrests, Charges and Convictions
Dispositions are shown exactly as the cited records report them. Pending charges are updated when a court acts; a record with no remaining conviction or pending charge is removed from the site.
Offense date Oct 1977, Market Bosworth, Leicestershire
Indecent exposure (October 1977)
Market Bosworth Police · Market Bosworth Magistrates' Court · Indecent Exposure (English law) · Arrested Oct 1977 · Convicted Convicted · Sentence: £30 fine
In October 1977, at age 17, Pitchfork was fined £30 by Market Bosworth magistrates for exposing himself to a schoolgirl, after pleading guilty.
SourcesColin Pitchfork
Offense date 1979, Leicestershire
Indecent assault (1979/1980)
Leicestershire Police · Magistrates' Court · Indecent Exposure (English law) · Arrested 1979 · Convicted Convicted · Sentence: Probation (1 year); also referred to psychiatric counseling at Carlton Hayes Hospital before marriage in 1981
In 1979 Pitchfork forced a 16-year-old girl into a field and sexually assaulted her. He was referred for psychiatric counseling following conviction for indecent exposure.
SourcesColin Pitchfork; Colin Pitchfork: First Killer Convicted by DNA Profiling
Offense date Feb 14, 1980, Earl Shilton, Leicestershire
Indecent exposure (February 1980)
Leicestershire Police · Hinckley Magistrates' Court · Indecent Exposure (English law) · Arrested Feb 14, 1980 · Convicted Convicted · Sentence: 1 year probation
On 14 February 1980, Pitchfork exposed himself to two teenage girls in Earl Shilton. He was given one year's probation by Hinckley magistrates.
SourcesColin Pitchfork
Offense date Nov 21, 1983, Narborough, Leicestershire
Murder of Lynda Mann
Leicestershire Police · Leicester Crown Court · Murder (English law) · Arrested Sep 19, 1987 · Convicted Convicted · Sentence: Life imprisonment (concurrent sentences; 30-year minimum term imposed, reduced to 28 years on appeal 2009)
A 15-year-old girl was raped and strangled on Black Pad footpath in Narborough after being abducted while walking home from babysitting. She was left partially concealed behind bushes. Pitchfork left his infant son asleep in his car during the offense.
SourcesColin Pitchfork
Offense date Nov 21, 1983, Narborough, Leicestershire
Rape of Lynda Mann
Leicestershire Police · Leicester Crown Court · Sexual Offences (English law) · Arrested Sep 19, 1987 · Convicted Convicted · Sentence: 10 years imprisonment (concurrent)
Rape of a 15-year-old girl on Black Pad footpath; victim died from strangulation.
SourcesColin Pitchfork: First Killer Convicted by DNA Profiling
Offense date Oct 1985, Wigston, Leicestershire
Indecent assault (1985)
Leicestershire Police · Leicester Crown Court · Sexual Offences (English law) · Arrested Sep 19, 1987 · Convicted Convicted · Sentence: 3 years imprisonment (concurrent)
In October 1985, Pitchfork attacked a 16-year-old trainee hairdresser walking home at night in Wigston. He approached her from behind with a screwdriver held to her neck, dragged her to a dark corner near garages, committed oral rape, and threatened to return and find her if she reported it.
SourcesColin Pitchfork: First Killer Convicted by DNA Profiling
Offense date Jul 31, 1986, Enderby, Leicestershire
Rape of Dawn Ashworth
Leicestershire Police · Leicester Crown Court · Sexual Offences (English law) · Arrested Sep 19, 1987 · Convicted Convicted · Sentence: 10 years imprisonment (concurrent)
Rape of a 15-year-old girl near Ten Pound Lane footpath in Enderby; victim died from strangulation.
SourcesColin Pitchfork: First Killer Convicted by DNA Profiling
Offense date Jul 31, 1986, Enderby, Leicestershire
Murder of Dawn Ashworth
Leicestershire Police · Leicester Crown Court · Murder (English law) · Arrested Sep 19, 1987 · Convicted Convicted · Sentence: Life imprisonment (concurrent sentences; 30-year minimum term imposed, reduced to 28 years on appeal 2009)
A 15-year-old girl was raped and strangled three years after the first murder using similar modus operandi. Her body was found in a wooded area near Ten Pound Lane footpath in Enderby, concealed with leaves and undergrowth. Victim showed signs of severe beating and struggling.
SourcesColin Pitchfork
Pattern and Background
Victim counts and the pattern of the offenses as stated by courts, agencies and the cited reporting. Suspected counts are what officials have said publicly, not a finding of this site.
2
Victims convicted
0
Victims confessed
0
Victims suspected
Active years
1977–1986
Stated motive
Sexual
Range from home
local
Confessed
Yes
Cooperated with investigators
Yes
Education
high school
Marital history
Married
Children
2
Agencies
Law enforcement, prosecutors and corrections agencies the records show dealing with this person. An investigator working a case with a possible connection can start here.
Leicestershire Police · GB
Arrested Pitchfork 19 September 1987; investigated murders of Lynda Mann and Dawn Ashworth
Source: Wikipedia
Home Secretary/Secretary of State for Justice · GB
Michael Howard set tariff at 30 years (1994); Dominic Raab, Robert Buckland, and Alex Chalk (subsequent Justices Secretary) challenged multiple release decisions
Leicester Crown Court · GB
Trial and sentencing by Mr Justice Otton on 22 January 1988; life imprisonment with 30-year minimum term
Source: Wikipedia
Ministry of Justice · GB
Approved Parole Board decision for move to open prison June 2016; Justice Secretary challenged multiple parole board release decisions
Source: Hinckley Times
National Probation Service · GB
Supervised Pitchfork on release September 2021; recalled to custody November 2021 for breaching licence conditions
Crown Prosecution Service · GB
Prosecuted Pitchfork at Leicester Crown Court 1988; concluded motivation was 'perverted sadism'
Market Bosworth Police · GB
Investigated indecent exposure charge October 1977
Source: Murderpedia
Her Majesty's Prison Service · GB
Held Pitchfork in custody from 1988; transferred to HMP Leyhill (open prison) prior to 2016; held at various facilities including HMP The Verne
Court of Appeal, Criminal Division · GB
Agency case 2009 EWCA Crim 963
Appeal hearing April-May 2009; reduced minimum term from 30 to 28 years
Parole Board for England and Wales · GB
Conducted multiple parole reviews 2016-2025; denied release in October 2025; approved move to open prison April 2016; recommended release June 2021 (later recalled); latest hearing October 2025 refusing release
Source: ITV News
Places Lived, Worked and Frequented
Each place and date range comes from a cited record. Dates marked approximate are as reported. Know a place that is missing? Use Edit record under the photo; a moderator reviews it before it appears.
GB
Newbold Verdon, England, United Kingdom
1960 – 1981 · Family home at 6 Brascote Lane; lived with parents and siblings
Desford, England, United Kingdom
approx. 1966 – 1976 · Bosworth College
Market Bosworth, England, United Kingdom
approx. 1966 – 1976 · Market Bosworth High School
Leicester, England, United Kingdom
1976 – Sep 1987 · Hampshires Bakery, worked as apprentice, then cake decorator and sculptor
Littlethorpe, England, United Kingdom
1981 – Sep 1987 · Married residence with wife Carol (social worker) and two sons; arrested at this address
Narborough, England, United Kingdom
1981 – 1981 · Carlton Hayes Hospital · Outpatient psychiatric counseling for indecent exposure ('The Woodlands'); referred before marriage
Leicester, England, United Kingdom
Jan 22, 1988 – Sep 01, 2021 · HM Prison closed facility; sentenced life imprisonment with 30-year minimum (reduced to 28 years 2009)
Gloucestershire, England, United Kingdom
2018 – Sep 01, 2021 · HMP Leyhill, open prison; moved from closed prison in preparation for parole
England, United Kingdom
Nov 19, 2021 – present · Recalled to closed prison; no parole release since November 2021; October 2025 parole refused
Timeline
Mar 23, 1960
Colin Pitchfork born in Bristol, UK; second of three children.
Oct 1977
At age 17, fined £30 by Market Bosworth magistrates for indecent exposure to a schoolgirl.
1979
Forced a 16-year-old girl into a field and sexually assaulted her; given probation.
Feb 14, 1980
Exposed himself to two teenage girls in Earl Shilton; given one year's probation by Hinckley magistrates.
1981
Married to Carol, a social worker; referred for psychiatric counseling at Carlton Hayes Hospital for indecent exposure.
1983
First son born.
Nov 21, 1983
Raped and strangled 15-year-old Lynda Mann on Black Pad footpath in Narborough while his infant son slept in his car.
Oct 1985
Attacked a 16-year-old trainee hairdresser in Wigston with screwdriver, committed oral rape.
Jan 1986
Second son born.
Jul 31, 1986
Raped and strangled 15-year-old Dawn Ashworth near Ten Pound Lane footpath in Enderby; left her body concealed in woods.
Aug 01, 1987
Ian Kelly, Pitchfork's bakery colleague, overheard boasting in a Leicester pub about having posed as Pitchfork for DNA screening.
Sep 19, 1987
Arrested at his home in Littlethorpe after woman reported Kelly's pub conversation to police; DNA matched both murder scenes.
Sep 19, 1987
During police questioning, admitted to exposing himself to over 1,000 women, engaging in sexual assault, and committing murders to prevent identification.
Jan 22, 1988
Sentenced to life imprisonment: life for murders, 10 years for each rape, 3 years for indecent assaults, 3 years for conspiracy (all concurrent); 30-year minimum term imposed.
Jan 22, 1988
At Leicester Crown Court, pleaded guilty to two counts of murder, two counts of rape, two counts of indecent assault, and conspiracy to pervert the course of justice.
2009
Minimum term reduced from 30 years to 28 years on appeal due to 'exceptional progress' made in custody.
2016
Parole Board approved move to open prison; minimum term of 28 years had been completed.
Jun 2021
Parole Board directed his release; Justice Secretary challenged decision unsuccessfully.
Sep 01, 2021
Released on conditional license with GPS tagging, polygraph testing, and restriction from entering Leicestershire.
Nov 19, 2021
Recalled to prison after less than two months for breaching license conditions by approaching young women during walks.
Jun 2023
Parole Board directed release a second time; Lord Chancellor Alex Chalk intervened to demand reconsideration.
Dec 2023
After Lord Chancellor's intervention, Parole Board reversed decision and refused parole.
Oct 2025
Parole Board denied parole application; recommended no move to open prison conditions.
Sources
Solve the Case is never the original source. Each item below is the public record a statement on this page rests on, with an archived copy where one exists.
News report · Murderpedia ·
Colin Pitchfork“Pitchfork raped and murdered two girls in Narborough, Leicestershire, on November 21, 1983, and on July 31, 1986. He was arrested on September 19, 1987, confessed, and was sentenced to life in prison on January 23, 1988.”
Other · Radford University, Department of Psychology ·
Radford University serial killer biography: Pitchfork, Colin“Colin Pitchfork was born in Bristol, UK. He was the second of three children.”
News report · ITV News ·
Colin Pitchfork: Child-murderer will not be released from prison as parole is denied“Colin Pitchfork will not be released from prison as parole is denied. He remains in prison after the Parole Board refused release in October 2025.”
News report · Wikipedia ·
Colin Pitchfork“Born 23 March 1960; first person convicted of rape and murder using DNA profiling after he murdered two girls in neighbouring Leicestershire villages: Lynda Mann in Narborough in November 1983 and Dawn Ashworth in Enderby in July 1986.”
Other · colinpitchfork.co.uk ·
Colin Pitchfork: The First Murderer Convicted by DNA Evidence“Pitchfork pleaded guilty to both murders and rapes, two further sexual assaults, and conspiracy to pervert the course of justice. On 22 January 1988 he was sentenced to life imprisonment with a 30-year minimum term, later reduced to 28 years on appeal in 2009.”
News report · Simply Forensic ·
Colin Pitchfork: First Killer Convicted by DNA Profiling“He pleaded guilty to both murders and was sentenced to life imprisonment on 22 January 1988, with the judge giving him a 30-year minimum term.”
News report · Hinckley Times ·
Ministry of justice approves parole board decision Pitchfork to move to an open prison“Colin Pitchfork, who as a child attended Market Bosworth High School and Bosworth College in Desford and lived in Newbold Verdon until his marriage in 1981, was jailed for life after strangling the 15-year-olds in 1983 and 1986.”
Court record · National Archives, Courts and Tribunals Judiciary ·
Court of Appeal judgment - Pitchfork appeal“On 22nd January 1988 in the Crown Court at Leicester before Otton J, Colin Pitchfork pleaded guilty to the rape and murder of two young girls, conspiracy to pervert the course of justice, and two further separate offences of indecent assault.”
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