One of Britain’s worst paedophiles could be FREED from jail: Child abuser who coaxed nursery worker Vanessa George to sexually abuse babies and toddlers is set for parole board hearing

May 2022

Colin Blanchard was handed indeterminate term for sex abuse charges in 2011
It came after he recruited Vanessa George to abuse 64 babies in her care
Blanchard is currently being held at Category C HMP Wymott in Lancashire
He will appear before Parole Board on July 4 and will give evidence via video link

One of Britain’s worst paedophiles, who coaxed nursery worker Vanessa George to sexually abuse babies and toddlers, could be freed from jail as he prepares for a parole board hearing.

She cruelly refused to tell police the names of all her victims, leading to a decade of ‘hell’ for families

Colin Blanchard, 51, was handed an indeterminate sentence in 2011 for sex abuse charges and told he would serve a minimum of nine years.

It came after he recruited George to abuse 64 babies in her care for his notorious paedophile gang.

Blanchard, from Rochdale, is currently held at Category C HMP Wymott, near Leyland, Lancashire, and will appear before a Parole Board on July 4, MailOnline can reveal.

He will give evidence via a video link to a judge, psychologist and an independent member.

If the panel recommends him for release, he could be released from prison by mid August.

Colin Blanchard, 51, has been referred to the Parole Board to be considered for release after he was handed an indeterminate sentence in 2011 for sex abuse charges and told he would serve a minimum of nine years

A spokesperson for the Parole Board said: ‘We can confirm the parole review of Colin Blanchard has been referred to the Parole Board by the Secretary of State for Justice and is following standard processes. A hearing is expected to take place in early July.

‘Parole Board decisions are solely focused on what risk a prisoner could represent to the public if released and whether that risk is manageable in the community.

The paedophile had convinced nursery worker Vanessa George (pictured) to abuse 64 babies and toddlers in her care

‘A panel will carefully examine a huge range of evidence, including details of the original crime, and any evidence of behaviour change, as well as explore the harm done and impact the crime has had on the victims.

‘Members read and digest hundreds of pages of evidence and reports in the lead up to an oral hearing. Evidence from witnesses including probation officers, psychiatrists and psychologists, officials supervising the offender in prison as well as victim personal statements are then given at the hearing.

‘The prisoner and witnesses are then questioned at length during the hearing which often lasts a full day or more. Parole reviews are undertaken thoroughly and with extreme care. Protecting the public is our number one priority.’