DOUBLE child murderer Colin Pitchfork has walked free from prison.

The monster, 61, was jailed for life after raping and strangling 15-year-olds Lynda Mann and Dawn Ashworth in Leicestershire in 1983 and 1986.

He is now set to live in a probation hostel near unsuspecting families after the Parole Board rejected an appeal against his release from HMP Leyhill in Gloucestershire.

The Sun revealed last month that officials were drawing up plans to ensure he will be kept under the toughest supervision.

And now, Pitchfork has been freed – with officials slapping him with the highest risk rating.

The double killer will have to wear an electronic tag, face restrictions on using the internet and be banned from going near relatives of his victims.

His life licence conditions mean he can be recalled for the slightest breach.

Pitchfork will also be placed on the sex offenders register.

Pitchfork was jailed in 1988 for the rape and murder of 15 -year-olds Lynda Mann and Dawn Ashworth.

Last night Barbara Ashworth, the mother of Pitchfork’s second victim Dawn, said: "Well it was on the books that he was going to be released, but I don't think he should be breathing the same air as us.

"It goes without saying that life should have meant life in his case, because he said he was guilty of the offences, the murders of both the girls."

Asked if she was surprised Pitchfork had become eligible for release, Ms Ashworth said: "Yes, I think so. They did say that if it had been done today he wouldn't have been let out.

"But that doesn't excuse anything. I don't have my daughter back or any of the hopes and dreams that she had in her life.

"She was my only daughter and you live your life through them and their future – but that was taken away."

Questioned on how she and her family would cope with Pitchfork's release, Ms Ashworth continued: "Well, I can never put it out of my mind.

"I recoil every day with people talking about their daughters and grandchildren. As I say, it's with you daily, what you've had taken and all that she could have achieved."

Asked if she had a way of dealing with the news, Ms Ashworth added: "No, I'm not able to. I just think it should never have been allowed, he should never be walking the streets again.

"The law is the law and what they say goes, but it shouldn't have come about – he should have been locked away for life without parole as far as I'm concerned.

"It's an existence, it's not a life. I'm not living a life, it's just go from day-to-day.

"Something like this goes to pull the rug from under you and you don't realise how shattered your life can be when you've just had everything taken away."

His crimes led Leicestershire Police to launch its biggest ever manhunt at the time.

I just think it should never have been allowed

But he evaded arrest until 1987, when a bakery colleague boasted he got £200 for posing as Pitchfork to give a blood and saliva sample.

Speaking after his conviction, then Lord Chief Justice, Lord Lane, said: "From the point of view of the safety of the public I doubt if he should ever be released."

Yet Pitchfork, who was the first UK murderer convicted using DNA evidence, saw his minimum term cut from 30 years to 28 in 2009.

 He had been denied parole twice in 2016 and 2018.

But in June a panel found he was no longer a danger to the public.

A Ministry of Justice source said: "Public safety will not be compromised. If he breaches any condition he will immediately be returned to custody.

"The Ministry of Justice wanted him to remain behind bars but it was a Parole Board decision to release him. We are disappointed.

"We can see it will cause a lot of pain and distress, not just to the victims’ families but to local people too. It is still very raw for them after all this time.

"We want to confirm and reassure the public that he will be very well monitored and supervised and will be returned to custody at the slightest breach.

"Pitchfork will be subjected to the strictest and most restrictive conditions ever set and he will be supervised for the rest of his life.

"Every offender is subject to seven licence conditions on their release.

"He will be subject to these seven and an extra 26 – a total of 43 conditions."

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