A victim of Greater Manchester's most notorious rapist has said he should never be released. And the woman, who was raped by Andrew Longmire in 1987 believes he has changed his name to that of a character in Coronation Street to mock his 13 victims.
Longmire, now 66, who has changed his surname to Barlow, and was once branded Britain's most wanted man, has already spent time out of prison as he prepares for release. He was given multiple life sentences in October 1988 after being convicted of 11 rapes; three attempted rapes; indecent assault; and using a firearm to resist arrest.
His tariff was fixed at 20 years. In the decades that followed, Barlow was linked to more offending, as two previously unsolved cases were cracked and he was given two further life sentences in 2010 and 2017.
But the Parole Board has confirmed that he is due to be released this month. The decision has been described as a "perversion of justice" by veteran Manchester MP, Graham Stringer, and the daughter of one of his victims has started a petition calling for his parole to be stopped.
Now another of his victims has told the Manchester Evening News she believes Barlow should remain behind bars for a full life term. She was raped by him in her home in Greater Manchester in the 1980s.
"I see him in my mind everyday," she said. "I am absolutely horrified that he is to due to be released. It is a complete smack in the face even though I knew it might happen one day. I have been fortunate in having a victim liaison officer for the past ten years. They have been speaking to me every day recently when it emerged he was coming out.
"He has tried to get parole about eight times and every time you object and then it is a waiting game and your heart is in your mouth. I don't care about his age, there is no way this man is safe. I have been diagnosed with PTSD. I have not slept in a bed for 35 years. I sleep downstairs."
She was in her twenties when Barlow got into her house early in the morning. "I'll never forget his eyes. He held a knife to my throat. I remember exactly what he was wearing. He was in a green jacket with a scarf across the lower part of his face.
"We - the 13 of us - are serving the life sentences. He should never come out. He would come out to a world that he does not really know and that could send him over the edge.
"He is mocking us. He was called the Coronation Street rapist, and he has changed his name to Barlow - who was the biggest name in Corrie - Ken Barlow. Also he was arrested in Barlow Street - it is his way of putting two fingers up to us."
Barlow was dubbed 'The Coronation Street rapist' as most of the victims were attacked in their own terraced homes, in the north of England - the majority living in Greater Manchester. Two of the attacks took place in the street.
He would spend days carrying out reconnaissance on his victims' homes to work out domestic routines, so he knew at what time husbands and partners would leave for work so he could attack women alone. He preyed upon teenagers and young mothers.
The victim added: "I have submitted an appeal against his release. I hope others to do. People have until January 10th to do so. Barlow was moved to an open prison in 2021 but the following year was returned to a closed prison, which is surely an indication that not everything was right, now he is being released. In my opinion as he recieved thirteen life sentences. Life should be life."
Between 1981 and 1988 Barlow went on two separate campaigns of terror, raping women in five different counties. The first was between 1981 and 1984 and the second between August 1987 and his arrest in January 1988, when he opened fire with a shotgun as two police officers detained him.
Barlow's final two convictions were for offences committed in 1981 and 1982. In the first a woman was raped in front of her three-year-old child in Sheffiled. In the second a 15-year-old girl was raped at knifepoint in Bolton. They were solved thanks to advances in DNA technology and Barlow admitted them both, but said he could not remember either attack. Barlow, who lived in Bolton and Oldham, was a Category A prisoner until this was downgraded to B in 2010.
The daughter of one of Barlow's victims who has launched the petition demanding his parole is stopped has revealed her mother only found out about his pending release through a Manchester Evening News article.
Mr Stringer has written to the Chief Executive of the Parole Board expressing his concerns that several of the victims were not informed. In his letter he says that he his writing on behalf of a consituent whose close relative was a victim of Barlow. He writes: "My constituent is concerned that his (relative) has not been informed that Andrew Barlow is likely to be released in the near future and she has not been informed of this. She has only learned about this matter from the press.
"I have also been contacted by another victim who wishes to remain anonymous and also by a woman whose mother was a victim. It appears that none of these victims have been given the courtesy of being informed of Barlow’s likely release. This is unsatisfactory on many levels, both that this man remains a danger to women and that his previous victims have not been informed so that they may make representations. I would request that you delay any possible release of Andrew Barlow until all his victims have been informed."
Mr Stringer has campaigned previoulsy in the case of Suzanne Capper, from Moston, who was tortured and murdered by a gang in 1992. He worked against the killers of Suzanne getting parole.
Commenting on the Barlow case he said: "I will certainly be signing the petition set up by the victim's daughter. I also intend to take the matter up with Ministers in the House of Commons and with the Parole Board who are clearly, in my opinion, failing in a duty to keep the victims and relatives infomed of developments of pending release."
The Parole Board has now confirmed Barlow's imminent release - but a summary of the reasons why he is being granted his freedom after 34 years in custody reveals he has already had a taste of freedom.
The decision to release him was made on November 30 - the eighth time his case had been reviewed by the Parole Board since the expiry of his initial 20-year tariff.
A Parole Board Decision Summary says: "In 2020, a panel of the Parole Board considered his case and recommended transfer to open conditions. This recommendation was accepted by the Secretary of State and Mr Barlow was transferred to open conditions in January 2021.
"Following that move, he had successfully undertaken periods of temporary release where he was escorted by a prison officer. The panel heard how well he was progressing in open conditions. In June 2022, Mr Barlow was moved back to closed conditions. After hearing from witnesses and Mr Barlow, the panel concluded that the evidence did not support the reasons for the transfer back to closed prison.
"The panel examined the release plan provided by Mr Barlow’s probation officer and weighed its proposals against assessed risks. The plan included a requirement to reside in designated accommodation as well as strict limitations on Mr Barlow’s contacts, movements and activities. The panel concluded this plan was robust enough to manage Mr Barlow in the community at this stage."
The panel also considered evidence from a prison service psychologist. A second psychologist commissioned on behalf of Mr Barlow recommended his release. The panel also considered a statement from a victim which conveyed the impact of Barlow’s crimes and the consequences of his offending.
It says his behaviour while in custody has been "good" for many years. He has obtained educational and vocational qualifications. He has completed accredited programmes to address sex offending. In 2002 he commenced treatment at the Fens Dangerous and Severe Personality Disorder Unit at Whitemoor Prison. He has also spent considerable time in a regime to help people recognise and deal with their complex problems.
Commenting on one the 1987 victims finding out about Barlow's planned release via the MEN, a spokeman for the Parole Board said: "I’m sorry to hear that the victim found out that way. It is the responsibility of the Victim Contact Scheme within HMPPS to keep victims informed of any developments/decisions with a prisoner’s parole, so if the victim is engaged with the Victim Contact Scheme their Victim Liaison Officer should have informed them of the Parole Board’s decision."
Any victims seekng support should contact:gmps.gmvictims@justice.gov.uk.
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