Sadistic killer of stable girl's open prison bid blocked by Justice Secretary

The former Justice Secretary has blocked a sadistic killer of a stable girl from moving to an open prison.

Colin Hill,67, raped Leanne Scott before knifing, strangling and shooting her in the face on her 17th birthday. Leanne, who lived for her horse Solo and dog Holly, was found dumped on fenland a mile from her home after she was killed in Cambridgeshire in April 1987.

Hill, who was a Hells Angel and pal of Leanne's dad Tim, had lured her to a pub. The Parole Board cleared him for a move to open prison in July but the recommendation was refused by the then Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood.

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AMinistry of Justice spokesperson said on Friday: “This was a horrific crime, and our thoughts remain with the victims. Public protection is our number one priority which is why we have blocked Colin Hill’s transfer to open prison.” Ms Mahmood made the decision before she was made Home Secretary earlier this month.

Leanne's sister Kelly Scott said: "I was in disbelief when I got the call. It felt like someone was going to phone me again and say they were joking.

"I spent the following day in tears and finally, after 38 years, they were happy tears. I've always felt totally and utterly unheard and let down by the justice system but it has restored my faith in it.

"I can't understand how the Parole Board came to the decision they came to. After what he did to my sister there's no way they can release him to open prison. He should never see the light of day again."

Kelly, who 14 when her only sister was murdered, read her victim impact statement to Hill at his parole hearing along with a woman he beat, kidnaped and raped three weeks before he murdered Leanne.

Kelly said: "Maybe us having the strength to attend in some small way contributed to the decision."

Hill denied murder on the grounds of diminished responsibility but was found guilty and got an 18-year minimum term at Northampton crown court. Mr Justice Leggatt said: "You pose a grave threat to the public. You are a sadistic psychopath."

The Parole Board cleared Hill for release in 2018 but he was recalled to jail for breaking his conditions of licence after targeting a vulnerable woman.

In 2020, Hill was jailed under the name Martin Cooper for an additional seven years after he admitted beating, kidnapping and raping a woman three weeks before he murdered Leanne. He will be referred for a new parole hearing in two years time.