‘Coronation Street rapist’ with 13 life sentences applies for release

A serial sex offender nicknamed the ‘Coronation Street Rapist’ has launched a new attempt to gain his freedom.

Andrew Barlow, who served 13 life sentences for rape during his life, was released from prison in March 2023 after 34 years behind bars.

But just six weeks later, the 67-year-old from Bolton was sent back to prison for bad conduct and breach of licence conditions.

After his release, a police escort took him to a probation service residence, but it was later concluded that the danger he posed to the public was “not manageable in the community.”

Barlow, formerly known as Andrew Longmire, got his nickname because most of his victims were attacked in their own terraced houses in the north of England, predominantly in Greater Manchester.

Now there are fears he could soon be released from prison after appealing the decision that saw him return to his cell on June 19.

A decision on whether he will be released will be announced by Wednesday next week, the parole board confirmed.

The prospect of Barlow being free again has infuriated his numerous victims and their families, who campaigned to keep him in prison with the help of Manchester MP Graham Stringer.

“He is a dangerous rapist who has not changed in my eyes,” a victim’s relative told the Manchester Evening News, claiming he had breached some of the 32 licence conditions imposed on him.

Barlow’s release from prison had been delayed by then Justice Secretary and Deputy Prime Minister Dominic Raab after he asked the Parole Board to reconsider its decision.

In January 2023, Mr Raab said: “My thoughts are with the victims of Andrew Barlow, whose heinous crimes have destroyed the lives of dozens of women.”

“Protecting the public is my top priority. I am overhauling the parole system to keep inmates who pose a danger to the public off our streets.”

After Barlow was quickly returned to prison in April 2023, Stringer said: “This is extraordinary. I think this is another failure of the parole board to use common sense and protect the public from a very dangerous man.”

“You were warned by me and the victims. This is institutional failure of the highest order.”

A relative of a woman Barlow raped in her own home in Greater Manchester in 1987 said in May last year: “I took it upon myself in January and decided to move on with my life when Barlow was released.”

“Now this animal is back in our lives. We reported it to the authorities, but they didn’t listen. Someone must be held accountable.

“This means that all the victims and their families will have to relive the ordeal we had to in January when we tried in vain to prevent his release. We told the authorities that he was too high a risk and we were proven right.

“I want to sit down with someone from the parole board in person and tell them what happened to our family because of Barlow – not send an email like I had to do in January.”

The daughter of a woman whose mother was raped by Barlow in Greater Manchester in the early 1980s said: “I was shocked to hear he had been recalled so quickly.”

“But when I think about how evil and twisted he was when he committed his crimes, it doesn’t surprise me.

“When the victim support worker told me that, I got goosebumps all over my body and then tears came to my eyes. I just thought: Who did he attack this time?

“The officer told me he didn’t hurt anyone, but his behavior would have resulted in an immediate transfer to jail. I’m just glad he was being monitored so closely because his behavior, whatever it was, could have escalated.”

In 1988, Barlow was sentenced to eleven life terms for the rape of eleven women – and a further 56 years for other crimes.

He was sentenced to two more life sentences in 2010 and 2017 after committing two rapes in 1981 and 1982 that were linked to him through advances in DNA technology.

Since he had already served the original 20-year prison sentence from 1988, his prison sentence was extended by two years in each case.

Two of the attacks took place on the street. He also struck in Cheshire, Staffordshire, Lancashire and South Yorkshire in the early 1980s and again from August 1987 to January 1988, when he was arrested.

Barlow is barred from entering Greater Manchester and the Parole Board stated in its decision to release him that he was subject to parole conditions which must be strictly adhered to.

Under the terms of the license, he would have to meet requirements to reside at a specific address, be of good behavior, disclose developing relationships and report for supervision or other appointments as required.

In addition, he must undergo enhanced supervision or monitoring, including drug testing, check-in times, GPS tracking, lie detector tests, and a set curfew.

Barlow had to comply with further established restrictions on contacts, activities and residence, as well as an exclusion zone to avoid contact with victims.

In addition, it had to respect certain restrictions related to the use of electronic technologies and continue to work on eliminating certain risk areas in the Community.

After Barlow’s removal last year, a Justice Department spokesman said: “Protecting the public is our top priority.”

“For this reason, offenders are subject to strict licensing requirements and if they violate these, we will not hesitate to take them back into custody.”

“Andrew Longmire will be taken back into custody today for breaching the terms of his licence.

“His release will be decided by the parole board. He has not been accused of any crimes.”

“Our Victims and Prisoners Bill includes plans to reform the parole process. This includes giving ministers the power to prevent the release of the most dangerous offenders, including murderers, rapists and terrorists.”

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