Maria Pearson, UK's Longest-Serving Female Inmate, Granted Parole Board Release
Maria Pearson, 67, the UK's longest-serving female prisoner, is to be released from custody after the Parole Board concluded she is no longer a danger to the public. Pearson has spent 38 years imprisoned for the murder of Janet Ayres in Hartlepool in 1986.
Pearson was initially sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 11 years. Her case has undergone multiple reviews by the Parole Board, which operates independently of government. A decision summary highlighted that the board deemed her safe for release, noting her significant time spent in open conditions.
The original murder involved Pearson bludgeoning Janet Ayres to death with a hammer, before setting fire to her body. This act occurred just 15 months after Pearson had been released from prison for the attempted murder of her adoptive mother.
The Parole Board stated it had considered evidence from Pearson herself, her probation officer, and a psychologist. It determined she had demonstrated a reduction in risk, particularly given her extensive period in open prison settings, which allowed for a gradual reintegration into less restrictive environments.
