Rape victim pleads: Do not let dangerous brute get out of jail

Woman who suffered ordeal at hands of notorious rapist says he should never be released - as parole board confirms he will soon be back on streets

- NEAL KEELING

A VICTIM of Greater Manchester's most notorious rapist has said he should never be released.

And the woman, who was raped by Andrew Longmire in 1987, believes he has changed his name to that of a character in Coronation Street to mock his 13 victims.

Longmire, now 66, who has changed his surname to Barlow and was once branded Britain's most wanted man, has already spent time out of prison as he prepares for release. He was given multiple life sentences in October 1988 after being convicted of 11 rapes; three attempted rapes; indecent assault and using a firearm to resist arrest.

His tariff was fixed at 20 years. In the decades that followed, Barlow was linked to more offending, as two previously unsolved cases were cracked and he was given two further life sentences in 2010 and 2017.

But the Parole Board has confirmed that he is due to be released this month.

The decision has been described as a "perversion of justice" by veteran Manchester MP, Graham Stringer and the daughter of one of his victims has started a petition calling for his parole to be stopped.

Now another of his victims has told the Manchester Evening News she believes Barlow should remain behind bars for a full life term. She was raped by him in her home in Greater Manchester in the 1980s.

"I see him in my mind every day," she said. "I am absolutely horrified that he is to due to be released. It is a complete smack in the face even though I knew it might happen one day. I have been fortunate in having a victim liaison officer for the past ten years. They have been speaking to me every day recently when it emerged he was coming out.

"He has tried to get parole about eight times and every time you object and then it is a waiting game and your heart is in your mouth. I don't care about his age, there is no way this man is safe. I have been diagnosed with PTSD. I have not slept in a bed for 35 years.