For further offenses, there have been second lives for dozens of killers, paedophiles and rapists who were released from prison.
Over the last decade, the sentence was repeated for 129 felons that were previously imprisoned for their crimes.
These figures will reignite debate about the Parole Board’s role following the scandals surrounding John Worboys, Black Cab rapist and Colin Pitchfork, child killer.
According to freedom of information laws, the Ministry of Justice has released data that shows 17 offenders were sentenced to a second term in 2019.
After being sentenced to a life term for the crime, one was sentenced to death for murder.
Stephen Unwin (42), and William McFall (53), were each sentenced to prison for the murders of separate pensioners in the 1990s. After their release, they joined forces and killed Quyen Nguyen (28) a mother-of-2. Both were sentenced to second lives.
Quyen Nguyen was 28, a North Tyneside resident, who was brutally robbed, tortured, and threatened by McFall, shortly after being released from North Tyneside prison.
A man was sentenced to a life term for his conviction of rape in another case. He is now back before the court, this time with a new life sentence.
A paedophile given life behind bars for rape attack on a child was also sentenced to a second life term for a similar sick sex attack on a youngster.
Last year there were fewer ‘double-lifers’ – largely because the pandemic led to fewer offenders going through the court system.
However among them was a repeat rapist, a cocaine dealer who had previously been jailed for an attempted rape on a girl and an offender jailed for attempted murder who had already been subject to a life sentence for murder.
It is believed that some of the lifers committed their second offence while still in prison for the first life sentence – by attacking inmates.
Some others may still be behind bars serving a life sentence for another crime committed prior to their imprisonment.
Many of these double-lifers are convicts released from jail to commit another appalling offense.
Paul O’Hara (pictured), 46, murdered his girlfriend Cherylee Shennan in 2014, a year after he was released from a life sentence for killing his previous partner Janine Waterworth. In 1998, he had ambushed Miss Waterworth with a knife and killed her.
O’Hara stabbed Cherylee Shennan (pictured) to death after she reported him for domestic abuse, following his release from prison for a previous murder
David Spencer, research director for the Centre for Crime Prevention, said: ‘It is shocking that so many serious offenders have been released early to commit further horrific offences.
‘This data should act as a wakeup call for all those who advocate for releasing criminals early.
‘Clearly the Parole Board has made serious errors in all of these cases and this has to raise the question of whether guidelines need to be tightened to stop similar mistakes being made.’
A Probation Service spokesman said: ‘A number of these second sentences were for historic crimes or offences committed in custody – not under supervision following release from prison. Offenders on licence face strict conditions and fewer than 0.5 per cent are convicted of a serious further offence while under supervision.’
In 2018 the board ruled that Worboys could be freed after serving ten years for a series of sex attacks – but a legal challenge led to the decision being quashed.
Pitchfork was raped by and killed two girls, aged 15 years old in the 1980s. The board approved his release earlier this year. He was released on September 1 but was recalled to jail barely three months later after displaying ‘concerning behaviour’. According to sources, he tried multiple methods of reaching out to young girls and teens.
Ian Birley (45), who was sentenced to 18 years in prison for murdering a Barnsley pensioner, is one of the double-lifers.
He got his license, and then he met up with his girlfriend. Then he followed John Gogarty (65), to his South Yorkshire house, stabbing him to death.
Leroy Campbell (60), a sex attack, received a second sentence in 2016 for murdering and rape of Lisa Skidmore (37) in Bilston West Midlands.
After serving 17 years in a life sentence for another sexual assault, he was released just four months before.
David Mitchell, 51 was sentenced initially to life for the 1990 murder of Kathleen McKenzie. Before being freed, Mitchell served 23 years. Within four months, he killed Robert Hind (46), in drunken anger.