ANTHONY ENTWISTLE FROM OSWALDTRWISTLE COULD BE FREED AFTER CHILLING CHILD MURDER IN EAST LANCASHIRE
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Oswaldtwistle Rapist
In a case that has shocked the community of East Lancashire, Anthony Entwistle, a man with a notorious criminal history, faces the possibility of release from prison after serving a significant portion of his sentence for a heinous crime committed in 1987. The case has garnered widespread attention, raising questions about justice, public safety, and the parole process.
Back in March 2009, the prospect of Entwistle’s early release became a topic of intense debate. The High Court judges made a pivotal decision that effectively overturned the original 'life means life' sentence handed down to him in 1988, thereby opening the door for him to be considered for parole in 2012. This ruling was based on legal considerations that determined a 25-year tariff was sufficient for the purposes of retribution and deterrence, although it did not guarantee release.
Anthony Entwistle, then 62 years old in 2012, was a resident of Thwaites Road in Oswaldtwistle. His criminal record was extensive, including convictions for three separate rapes prior to the murder of Michelle Calvy, a 16-year-old girl from Blackburn. Michelle was a former student of Witton Park High School, and her tragic death involved her being strangled with a hand ligature during a rape. Her body was later discarded at a scenic spot in Tockholes in April 1987.
Entwistle’s history of violence was well-documented. He had previously served prison sentences for two rapes, receiving a total of seven years imprisonment, and a third conviction for rape resulted in an additional ten-year sentence. Remarkably, he committed the murder of Michelle just weeks after being released from his seven-year incarceration. The judge at Preston Crown Court, at the time, explicitly stated that Entwistle would die in prison, reflecting the severity of his crimes and the public outrage they provoked.
During the sentencing, the court emphasized the brutality of the crime. The judge described how Entwistle had abducted Michelle while she was walking along a canal, strangled her during the act of rape, and then left her body at a remote location. The case was particularly disturbing given Entwistle’s prior convictions, which underscored a pattern of violent sexual offenses.
High Court judge Mr. Justice Davis, in his ruling, explained that Entwistle should be eligible for parole consideration after serving 25 years. The decision was rooted in the principles of retribution and deterrence, with the understanding that the Parole Board would ultimately determine whether he posed a danger to society. The judge expressed concerns that it might never be safe to release him, given his criminal history and the nature of his offenses.
In his detailed judgment, Mr. Justice Davis described the crime as particularly appalling, noting that Entwistle had strangled Michelle with a ligature during a rape, having abducted her while she was walking along a canal. The judge also highlighted Entwistle’s extensive criminal record, which included convictions for rape dating back to 1974 and 1980. The proximity of the murder to his release from prison was also emphasized, illustrating a disturbing pattern of recidivism.
Following the court’s decision, then-Justice Secretary Jack Straw, who was also Blackburn’s MP, pledged to meet with Michelle Calvy’s family to discuss the upcoming parole hearing. Straw acknowledged the family’s distress but reiterated that Entwistle’s release would only occur if he was deemed no longer a threat to the public. He explained that Entwistle would have the opportunity to apply for parole in three years, and that the decision would involve careful consideration by the parole authorities, including representations from the victim’s family.
Straw also pointed out that many prisoners with expired tariffs remain incarcerated because they are still considered dangerous, emphasizing the cautious approach taken in such cases. The case marked a significant moment in the local criminal justice history, being the first murder inquiry led by Detective Superintendent Neil Hunter, who now heads the Force Major Investigation Team in the area. Hunter and his colleagues had to act swiftly after learning of Entwistle’s release, leading to his arrest while he was engaged in cleaning his car. Evidence linked the vehicle to the crime scene, including a car mat matching an imprint found on Michelle’s leg when her body was discovered.
Detective Hunter described Entwistle as an extremely dangerous individual, convicted not only of stranger rapes but also of murder. His assessment underscored the ongoing threat he posed to women and the community at large, reinforcing the concerns about his potential release and the safety of the public in East Lancashire.
Back in March 2009, the prospect of Entwistle’s early release became a topic of intense debate. The High Court judges made a pivotal decision that effectively overturned the original 'life means life' sentence handed down to him in 1988, thereby opening the door for him to be considered for parole in 2012. This ruling was based on legal considerations that determined a 25-year tariff was sufficient for the purposes of retribution and deterrence, although it did not guarantee release.
Anthony Entwistle, then 62 years old in 2012, was a resident of Thwaites Road in Oswaldtwistle. His criminal record was extensive, including convictions for three separate rapes prior to the murder of Michelle Calvy, a 16-year-old girl from Blackburn. Michelle was a former student of Witton Park High School, and her tragic death involved her being strangled with a hand ligature during a rape. Her body was later discarded at a scenic spot in Tockholes in April 1987.
Entwistle’s history of violence was well-documented. He had previously served prison sentences for two rapes, receiving a total of seven years imprisonment, and a third conviction for rape resulted in an additional ten-year sentence. Remarkably, he committed the murder of Michelle just weeks after being released from his seven-year incarceration. The judge at Preston Crown Court, at the time, explicitly stated that Entwistle would die in prison, reflecting the severity of his crimes and the public outrage they provoked.
During the sentencing, the court emphasized the brutality of the crime. The judge described how Entwistle had abducted Michelle while she was walking along a canal, strangled her during the act of rape, and then left her body at a remote location. The case was particularly disturbing given Entwistle’s prior convictions, which underscored a pattern of violent sexual offenses.
High Court judge Mr. Justice Davis, in his ruling, explained that Entwistle should be eligible for parole consideration after serving 25 years. The decision was rooted in the principles of retribution and deterrence, with the understanding that the Parole Board would ultimately determine whether he posed a danger to society. The judge expressed concerns that it might never be safe to release him, given his criminal history and the nature of his offenses.
In his detailed judgment, Mr. Justice Davis described the crime as particularly appalling, noting that Entwistle had strangled Michelle with a ligature during a rape, having abducted her while she was walking along a canal. The judge also highlighted Entwistle’s extensive criminal record, which included convictions for rape dating back to 1974 and 1980. The proximity of the murder to his release from prison was also emphasized, illustrating a disturbing pattern of recidivism.
Following the court’s decision, then-Justice Secretary Jack Straw, who was also Blackburn’s MP, pledged to meet with Michelle Calvy’s family to discuss the upcoming parole hearing. Straw acknowledged the family’s distress but reiterated that Entwistle’s release would only occur if he was deemed no longer a threat to the public. He explained that Entwistle would have the opportunity to apply for parole in three years, and that the decision would involve careful consideration by the parole authorities, including representations from the victim’s family.
Straw also pointed out that many prisoners with expired tariffs remain incarcerated because they are still considered dangerous, emphasizing the cautious approach taken in such cases. The case marked a significant moment in the local criminal justice history, being the first murder inquiry led by Detective Superintendent Neil Hunter, who now heads the Force Major Investigation Team in the area. Hunter and his colleagues had to act swiftly after learning of Entwistle’s release, leading to his arrest while he was engaged in cleaning his car. Evidence linked the vehicle to the crime scene, including a car mat matching an imprint found on Michelle’s leg when her body was discovered.
Detective Hunter described Entwistle as an extremely dangerous individual, convicted not only of stranger rapes but also of murder. His assessment underscored the ongoing threat he posed to women and the community at large, reinforcing the concerns about his potential release and the safety of the public in East Lancashire.