Britain's Youngest Female Double Murderer Approved for Open Prison Transfer
The Parole Board has recommended that Lorraine Thorpe, widely regarded as Britain's youngest female double murderer, should be transferred to an open prison facility. This decision comes despite the panel simultaneously blocking her release on parole for the second consecutive time. Thorpe, now 31 years old, has been incarcerated since 2010 when she received a minimum sentence of 14 years for her crimes.
Gruesome Crimes Committed as a Juvenile
At just 15 years old, Thorpe participated in the brutal murders of two individuals within a two-week period in August 2009. Her victims included her own father, 43-year-old Desmond Thorpe, and Rosalyn Hunt. The crimes occurred in Ipswich, Suffolk, where Thorpe and her accomplice Paul Clarke, then 41, subjected Ms. Hunt to days of beatings and torture before ultimately smothering Mr. Thorpe. Their bodies were discovered in separate flats following the attacks.
During sentencing at the Old Bailey, Mr. Justice Saunders described Thorpe as "manipulative" and noted she was not acting entirely under Clarke's control. The judge revealed disturbing details about Thorpe's behavior, stating she "found violence funny and entertaining" and "appeared to have gloried in it," even describing to friends how she stamped on Rosalyn Hunt's head.
Mitigating Circumstances and Legal Proceedings
Despite the horrific nature of the crimes, the sentencing judge acknowledged Thorpe's "appalling" circumstances at the time of the offenses. She had been living in squalid conditions with her father and spending time with middle-aged alcoholics, leaving her with "no real understanding of what is right and what is wrong."
Both Thorpe and Clarke initially denied the charges and did not testify during their trial. They subsequently lost an appeal against their murder convictions in 2011. While Thorpe has accepted responsibility for Ms. Hunt's murder, she continues to maintain that her father died of natural causes.
Parole Board's Rationale for Open Prison Transfer
The Parole Board panel, which considered Thorpe's case earlier this month, determined she did not meet the necessary criteria for release but recommended transfer to less restrictive conditions. In their decision summary, the panel noted: "Ms. Thorpe has spent all her adult life to date in custody. She has little experience of independent pro-social living."
The panel emphasized that "her ability to cope with transition and the stressors in her life will be a key component of any future resettlement" and considered it "premature to be finalising any plans for longer term risk management." They concluded that Thorpe "first needed to be tested in less restrictive prison conditions" before any release could be contemplated.
Historical Context of Young Female Offenders
Thorpe is believed to be Britain's youngest female double murderer, though other young girls have committed single murders at even younger ages. Sharon Carr was just 12 years old when she fatally stabbed and mutilated 18-year-old Katie Rackliff in 1992, though she wasn't convicted until five years later. In a particularly notorious case, Mary Bell was only 11 when sentenced to life detention in 1968 for the manslaughter of two young boys, having committed her first murder at age 10.
Thorpe's case represents a complex intersection of juvenile crime, rehabilitation considerations, and public safety concerns. The Parole Board's decision to recommend open prison transfer while denying parole reflects the challenging balance between acknowledging her youth at the time of the offenses and ensuring adequate protection for society.
