A CHILD abuse ringleader who recruited ‘Britain’s worst female paedophile’ could be released from prison by the summer. Colin Blanchard – the paedo mastermind who convinced nursery worker Vanessa George to abuse babies and toddlers in her care – could be back on the streets within months. The 51-year-old was described as “the hub of […]
A CHILD abuse ringleader who recruited ‘Britain’s worst female paedophile’ could be released from prison by the summer.
Colin Blanchard – the paedo mastermind who convinced nursery worker Vanessa George to abuse babies and toddlers in her care – could be back on the streets within months.
The 51-year-old was described as “the hub of the paedophile wheel” at his sentencing.
He was slapped with a minimum term of just nine years in 2011 after persuading a string of middle-aged women to abuse kids for his pleasure.
But he has been referred to the Parole Board to be considered for release and his hearing could take place as early as May, The Mirror reports.
The families of his young victims will be able to give their views to experts in impact statements.
A Parole Board spokesman said: “We can confirm the parole review of Colin Blanchard has been referred to us and is following standard processes.
“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 panel will carefully examine a whole range of evidence, including details of the original crime, and any evidence of behaviour change, as well as understand the harm done and impact the crime has had on the victims.”
He added: “Parole reviews are undertaken thoroughly and with extreme care. Protecting the public is our number one priority.”
Blanchard was considered for release along with co-conspirator Angela Allen in 2019 despite a judge warning in 2011 that he may never be freed from jail.
His case was referred to the Parole Board by the Ministry of Justice but experts judged him not ready for release without a hearing.
He was required to complete another course in jail designed to prevent him re-offending and be reviewed by a psychologist.
After he had completed his nine-year minimum sentence, the Ministry of Justice referred his case to be considered for release.
Blanchard was a child abuse ringleader who recruited George, who earned the grisly title of Britain’s worst female paedo in 2009 after she was caged for taking sick pictures of herself harming babies and toddlers.
Special needs coordinator George took the images on her phone at a nursery in Plymouth.
She was jailed in 2009 for a minimum of seven years.
Her trial heard she sent pictures to Blanchard after meeting him on Facebook.
When arrested, the fiend cruelly refused to tell police the names of all of her victims – leading to a decade of “hell” for families who still aren’t sure whether their child was abused.
Child protection officers visited 180 children thought to have had contact with George, who admitted taking up to eight pictures a day while on duty.
Mum-of-two George, whose two daughters have publicly disowned her, described herself to creep lover Blanchard as a “paedo whore mum” in vile exchanges between the two.
She also called him “baby” and described them as the “perfect paedo couple” as she “plumbed new depths of depravity”.
IT expert Blanchard, of Rochdale, said to be the “hub of the paedophile wheel”, was later jailed for a minimum of nine years.
Tracey Lyons, who was jailed in 2011 for sending sickening child abuse pictures to Blanchard, has now been released from prison.
Tracy Dawber, who was in a year-long relationship with the paedo ringleader, was caged for four years for abusing a two-year-old boy and letting Blanchard film it.
Blanchard also traded the photos with prostitute Angela Allen, of Nottingham, who was jailed for at least five years.
The Parole Board ruled that she could be released last year.
The Parole Board ensures victims have the right to make personal statements and request licence conditions.
A board spokesperson said: “The Board recognises the pain and anguish victims will go through when an offender is going through a review and even more so if that offender is released.
“As such, we absolutely welcome input from victims when deciding licence conditions and will consider any requests for additional conditions extremely carefully.”
