A HANDYMAN who murdered four people has lost in his bid to be freed from prison.

George Francis Stephenson appeared in front of a Parole Board hearing, which recommended that it would not be safe for the public for him to be released from prison.

The board also considered if he should be transferred to an open prison, but did not recommend this action, either.

Stephenson, now 72, was given a mandatory life sentence in 1987 when he was convicted of murdering two men and two women, raping another woman and robbery.

He committed the horrific crimes in September 1986 at Burgate House in Fordingbridge, where he killed husband and wife Joseph and Hilda Cleaver, their son Tom and family nurse Margaret Murphy.

He became eligible for parole in 2021 after serving his minimum term of 35 years and appeared before the board at a hearing on November 29.

A decision summary issued by the Parole Board on December 21 said that Stephenson would not be released and would not be transferred to an open prison.

The hearing heard evidence from several officials, psychologists and a psychiatrist, along with Stephenson himself.

It also heard victim personal statements ‘which clearly conveyed the impact of Mr Stephenson’s crimes and the consequences of his offending’.

He had indicated to the board that he hoped he would be transferred to an open prison.

“The panel heard that there was some support from witnesses at the hearing for Mr Stephenson’s wish to progress to an open prison,” the summary said.

“No one at the hearing believed that he was safe to be released on life licence.”

However, the panel ‘did not believe that Mr Stephenson’s level of risk had reduced sufficiently to warrant a progressive move’.

Stephenson ‘appeared to consider that after 37 years in prison, his release was a matter of entitlement’.

At his trial in 1987, Stephenson told the jury that ‘that he had not been responsible for the offences and had acted only as a driver for others who had offended’.

The summary indicated that he has maintained this explanation throughout his sentence.

“At the time of his offending, he had already engaged in quite a lengthy criminal career,” the summary said. “He has evidenced a willingness to use violence and sexual violence in his offending, has associated with pro-criminal peers and has evidenced poor decision-making.

“The panel considered him to be someone who was prepared to take risks. He lacked empathy and has been seen to have the capacity for manipulation and deception.”

Stephenson has undertaken accredited programmes while in prison to address his use of violence and his past choices.

The board said there have been ‘no further concerns about his custodial behaviour’ since 2001, after a programme completed in 1996 ‘did not appear to do much at the time to improve his prison behaviour’.

Stephenson could only be released from prison if the board was satisfied that it ‘was no longer necessary for the protection of the public that Mr Stephenson remained confined in prison’.

The panel concluded: “After considering the circumstances of his offending, the progress made while in custody and the evidence presented at the hearing, the panel was not satisfied that release at this point would be safe for the protection of the public.

“Nor did the panel recommend to the Secretary of State that Mr Stephenson should be transferred to an open prison.

“He will be eligible for another parole review in due course.”