Double murderer's move to open prison is blocked

A woman who was once Britain's youngest female double murderer will not be transferred to an open prison after the move was blocked by the government.

Lorraine Thorpe, aged 15 at the time, murdered her father Desmond and a woman called Rosalyn Hunt in August 2009. She was jailed for a minimum of 14 years in 2010.

In February, the Parole Board said the now-31-year-old, from Ipswich, should not be released, but said she could be moved to an open facility.

But that recommendation has been vetoed by Deputy Prime Minister and Justice Secretary David Lammy.

A Ministry of Justice spokesperson said: "These were horrific crimes and our thoughts remain with the loved ones of Rosalyn Hunt and Desmond Thorpe.

"Public protection is our top priority which is why the deputy prime minister rejected the Parole Board's recommendation for a move to open conditions."

Thorpe and her accomplice, 41-year-old Paul Clarke, beat and tortured Rosalyn, before killing Desmond, 43, a vulnerable alcoholic.

They had held Hunt captive in her flat in Victoria Street, Ipswich, torturing her for days using a cheese grater, a fan and dog lead chains, and rubbing salt into her wounds before beating her to death.

They killed Desmond a few days later after he confronted the pair and threatened to report them to the authorities.

The two bodies were discovered at separate flats before Thorpe and Clarke were arrested and tried at Ipswich Crown Court.

Clarke died in prison in 2014.

The latest setback for Thorpe comes after she was refused parole back in 2023 after being deemed to be too great a risk to be released or moved to an open prison.

The Parole Board has been contacted for comment.

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