A Parole Board has been asked to reconsider its decision to allow double child killer Colin Pitchfork to be released from prison by Lord Chancellor Alex Chalk, the Ministry of Justice said.
The Parole Board ruled that Pitchfork, jailed for life for raping and strangling 15-year-olds Lynda Mann and Dawn Ashworth in Leicestershire in 1983 and 1986, can be freed.
He was given a minimum term of 30 years in 1988, later had it reduced to 28 years for good behaviour and was released in September 2021.
He was back behind bars two months later for breaching the licence conditions of his release.
The Lord Chancellor's intervention comes after Conservative MP for South Leicestershire Alberto Costa called for the parole decision to be challenged, and a Ministry of Justice source described it as "extremely worrying".
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Lynda Mann was killed by Pitchfork (Collect)In a statement on Monday, Mr Chalk said: "My thoughts remain with the families of Lynda Mann and Dawn Ashworth, whose lives were changed forever by the heinous crimes of Colin Pitchfork.
"My number one priority is public protection and after careful assessment I have asked the Parole Board to reconsider their decision to release him.
"It is absolutely vital that every lawful step is taken to keep dangerous offenders behind bars."
Dawn Ashworth was 15 when she died (Mirrorpix)Labour MP Sarah Champion said: "Good news, not least as he has changed his name in the past to escape detection."
Pitchfork has changed his name twice since his conviction and there are also fears that he might be targeted by vigilantes but last month, he was cleared for release by the Parole Board.
It said in its decision: "The prisoner had committed shocking, serious offences, causing immeasurable harm to his victims. However, the Parole Board's role, as required by law, is to undertake a risk assessment.
"The panel noted that Mr Pitchfork has been in prison for a very long time. His behaviour for almost all of that time has not caused any concern.
Police search for evidence (Mirrorpix)"He has made constructive use of his time and is now 63 years old. In general, age tends to reduce risk.
"Mr Pitchfork has completed many courses satisfactorily and the evidence before the panel demonstrated that he had learnt the lessons that he had been taught and had worked out how to apply them in practice.
"Accordingly, the panel determined that it was no longer necessary for the protection of the public for Mr Pitchfork to remain confined and thereby directed his release."
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