The parents of a teenager killed when she was pushed down the stairs by a career criminal have slammed a decision to release him from prison. Carly Fairhurst was just 19 when she was attacked by Darren Pilkington during a row at their home in Wigan. He left her to die, only calling 999 hours later. The 41-year-old was jailed for manslaughter in 2006. He was previously caged for the manslaughter of Paul Akister in 2000.
Career criminal Pilkington has spent 18 years in and out of high security jails for failing to abide by strict release conditions. When he was allowed to stay in an open prison in 2022, he absconded and went on the run for three days. Despite the slew of offences, the Parole Board has recommended that he is fit to leave prison and live in a bail hostel, monitored with an electronic tag and subject to a curfew.
Trevor and Sheila Fairhurst say they are “disgusted” by the Parole Board decision.