Ipswich double murderer Lorraine Thorpe denied parole

Thorpe was jailed for life with a minimum term of 14 years in 2010.

Lorraine Thorpe was just 15 when she was convicted of two counts of murder in 2010
Author: Matt SoanesPublished 17th Oct 2023

An Ipswich woman who is Britain's youngest ever female double murderer has been denied parole following a hearing.

Lorraine Thorpe was jailed for life with a minimum term of 14 years in 2010 for the killing of 41 year old Rosalyn Hunt and her 43 year old father Desmond Thorpe in 2009.

She was just 15 at the time.

Her accomplice, 41 year old Paul Clarke, was jailed for life with a minimum of 27 years but died at HM Prison Whitemoor in 2014.

The pair tortured Hunt over a period of several days before eventually killing her in August 2009.

Desmond Thorpe was later smothered with a cushion to prevent him implicating the pair in the first murder.

A review at the Parole Board has decided the now 29 year old is still too much of a risk to either be released or transferred to an open prison.

She remains at HM Prison Foston Hall, a women's prison in Derbyshire.

A spokesperson for the Parole Board said: “We can confirm that a panel of the Parole Board refused the release of Lorraine Thorpe following a paper review. The panel also refused to recommend a move to open prison.

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.

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.

Parole reviews are undertaken thoroughly and with extreme care. Protecting the public is our number one priority.

Under current legislation she will be eligible for a further review in due course. The date of the next review will be set by the Ministry of Justice.”

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