A serial rapist, who was once known as "Britain's most wanted man" could be released as soon as next month.
Andrew Barlow was dubbed the "Coronation Street rapist" because many of his attacks were in terraced houses in the north of England. Two of the attacks took place in the street.
Barlow, formerly known as Andrew Longmire, raped multiple women in five different counties throughout the 1980s. He would wait until his victim’s husband, partner, or parents, had left for work, before striking, often early in the morning.
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He left one woman with multiple stab wounds and a collapsed lung.
Despite getting 13 life sentences for his crimes, Barlow, now 66, has already spent some time out of prison, as he prepared for his official release. A relative of one of his many victims today told the MEN that she was told he could be freed as early as next month.
The news sparked fury from his victims and their relatives, and together with leading politicians they spoke out to insist he remained a danger and should stay behind bars.
HM Prison and Probation Service was first informed of the Parole Board's release decision on December 14. That decision was reviewed by a "reconsideration team", which found there was an "arguable case that the decision is irrational and procedurally unfair".
As a result the team, on behalf of the Justice Secretary Dominic Raab, applied to the Parole Board to have the decision formerly reconsidered on January 17. That was supported by testimony and statements from victims and their families.
The ECHO understands the review was carried out by a Parole Board member who wasn't involved in the original provisional release decision. Barlow remained behind bars throughout the process. Today (Thursday) it was confirmed the reconsideration application has been rejected and the initial release decision stands.
An outraged relative of one of his victims said she was contacted by telephone on Thursday by her Victim Liaison Officer to be told the news. She said: "I was informed through the victim support service that Andrew Barlow...the Parole Board have made the decision not to keep him behind bars and he will be allowed out as early as next month.
"There were a number of victims that appealed the parole board's initial recommendation to release him. I appealed against that decision and what they have said is that they have considered those appeals, but still believe he should be let out.
"We did our best to keep him behind bars but the Parole Board has now decided to release him. I am absolutely gobsmacked to be fair.
"Anyone that has read anything about this case and this man, let alone been a victim of him, knows that he is a danger. It is like locking up a dangerous dog in a cage, once it is let free it is going to attack again. I cannot get my head around it. I am absolutely livid.
"There must be other victims out there that did not come forward. I think that if these victims can come forward, there may be a chance of this being stopped."
A decision can only be reconsidered in certain eligible situations, like procedural unfairness or an error in law, the MEN reports.
The ruling to reject the application, which was published today and made by Sir John Saunders, a retired High Court judge and member of the Parole Board, says: "I do not consider that the decision contained any error of law or was irrational and accordingly, the application for reconsideration is refused."
He said in the ruling: "My job, as the reconsideration assessment panel, is to review the decision made by the panel to see whether any mistake of law or irrationality as it is defined in judicial review has been identified.
"It is not for me to decide the issue of whether [Barlow] should have been released nor to have any regard to any public, press or political reaction to the decision. If I decide that there has been an error of law in reaching the decision, or that the decision is irrational, I will direct that the matter be re-considered. If not then the decision will stand."
The ruling added: "If the panel are satisfied that it is no longer necessary for the safety of the public that the prisoner remains confined, it has to direct the release of the prisoner. It was so satisfied on proper grounds and accordingly the decision must stand subject to any contrary ruling from the High Court."
No exact release dates are contained in the published ruling. When exactly he will be freed is a matter for HM Prison and Probation Service.
A MoJ spokesman said: "We don't comment on release dates for security reasons." It's expected, however, that Barlow will remain on strict licence in the event of his release, bound by a number of restrictions.
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