'Coronation Street' rapist loses latest bid for freedom as Parole Board says releasing him from jail wouldn't be safe for the public - but recommends moving him to open prison 'to show he can be trusted'
- Andrew Barlow, 68, was handed 13 life sentences after a string of sex assaults
A serial sex attacker dubbed the 'Coronation Street' rapist who was once Britain's most wanted man failed in his latest bid for freedom, it was announced today.
Infamous criminal Andrew Barlow was handed 13 life sentences after a string of sex assaults on women and girls across five counties during the 1980s.
The 68-year-old spent 34 years behind bars for 11 rapes, three attempted rapes, indecent assault and using a firearm to resist arrest.
He was later found guilty of two more rapes in 2010 and 2017, committed during the 1980s. His final two convictions were for offences committed in 1981 and 1982.
In one of his vile crimes, he raped a woman in front of her three-year-old child who was hiding behind the sofa.
Barlow - dubbed the Coronation Street rapist because of the way he attacked his victims in their own terraced homes - was freed on parole in March last year, despite then justice secretary Dominic Raab attempting to halt his release.
His initial release in 2023 left his victims furious after they campaigned tirelessly with their families to keep the rapist behind bars.
Just six weeks later, he was hauled back to jail after breaching conditions, and today he discovered he failed in a bid to win freedom.
In its ruling, the Parole Board decided he is too 'high risk' to be released but went on to recommend he be placed in an open prison instead.
Andrew Barlow, a serial sex attacker dubbed the 'Coronation Street' rapist, was once Britain's most wanted man
Pictured is Andrew Barlow, formerly known as Andrew Longmire
In its ruling, the Board said he 'held attitudes supportive of or condoning sexual violence' but added: 'The panel heard that Mr Barlow was a quiet prisoner who gets on well with others on his wing.'
It added: 'Having reviewed Mr Barlow’s offending history, his custodial behaviour, his time on licence and the evidence at the oral hearing, the panel considered Mr Barlow would present a very high risk of a contact sexual offence at this time. His risk of serious harm towards other people was considered to be very high.'
The report concluded: 'The panel is not satisfied that release at this point would be safe for the protection of the public.
'The panel considered Mr Barlow to lack insight into his risk factors. However, on considering the criteria for recommending placement in open conditions, the panel recommended that Mr Barlow should be progressed in this way.
'It considered that he would present a low risk of absconding from an open prison and that a move to open conditions would allow him the chance to show that he can be trusted.
'It is now for the Secretary of State to decide whether to accept the Parole Board’s recommendation. Mr Barlow will be eligible for another parole review in due course.'
Some of the more horrific offences that Barlow, formerly known as Andrew Longmire, committed in his campaign of terror included of raping a 15-year-old girl by breaking into her home at around 8:45am when her parents had left the house.
Barlow threatened the 'petrified' girl with a knife before pulling her clothes off and raping her.
The cold cases were eventually solved thanks to advances in DNA technology and Barlow was given 13 life sentences for his horrific crimes
Barlow was freed on parole in March last year, despite then justice secretary Dominic Raab (pictured) attempting to halt his release, slamming his crimes as 'despicable'
The serial rapist would spend days carrying out reconnaissance on the victims' homes to work out their domestic routines.
Knowing when a victim's partners or parents would leave for work allowed Barlow to attack the victims alone.
The cold cases were eventually solved thanks to advances in DNA technology.
Last year a relative of a woman Barlow raped in her own home in Greater Manchester in 1987 told Manchester Evening News: 'I took it on the chin in January and decided to get on with my life when Barlow was released - now this animal is back in our lives again. We told the authorities and they didn't listen.
'Someone has to be accountable for this. It will mean all the victims and their families are reliving the agony again like we had to in January when we tried in vain to stop his release.
'We told the authorities he was too high a risk and we have been proven right.
'I will like to sit down with someone from the Parole Board face to face and tell them what happened to our family because of Barlow'.
