THE family of a 12-year-old boy strangled to death are furious after authorities released their son's killer without telling them - because they did not want to spoil their Christmas.
Steven Mullins was killed with his school tie by Richard Mortimer in 1982 - with the then 37-year-old killer sentenced to life imprisonment, with a minimum of 16 years, over the horrific crime.
The murderer has now been released, after serving 34 years in prison with the last four years in an open prison.
But the parents of tragic Steven Mullins only found out by accident that Mortimer had been released when a member of Victim Support staff let it slip.
Their case worker told the family that information was held back because they didn’t want to "spoil your Christmas".
Steven’s parents Michael and Margaret Mullins are have been left horrified, with dad Michael saying: "Who got the life sentence? Because Steven is still buried six-feet-under and now we have all this about him being allowed back so close to home."
They were told that Mortimer could be released as close as Leeds, which is just six miles from their home.
Michael, who is now 72, said: "If they allowed him to move back to Beeston where he was before, he will be just six miles from where I am stood.
"My sister lives in Leeds and will have five grandchildren living there by Christmas. My 16-year-old grandson goes to college in Leeds city centre. I am supposed to feel safe knowing the man who killed my son can be allowed near my family.
"We have no idea what this guy looks like anymore. The people of Leeds need to know that there is a child killer being allowed back on the streets."
Michael added that his family struggled with the fact that Mortimer had never shown any remorse for killing his son, who was a promising footballer.
Michael said: "Mortimer has never shown an ounce of remorse for what he did to Steven. I want to know why he has been in prison 34 years? What has he done in there? What has changed? You just don’t get answers about anything. We are the ones with the life sentence."
It had taken search teams five hours to find Steven's body, with the young boy eventually discovered in Caulms Wood, Dewsbury, West Yorkshire.
The family has made a complaint on the parole decision, which has now been resubmitted, and they are awaiting a response.
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Dewsbury MP Paula Sherriff said it was a "heartbreaking" case, saying: "I have written to the Victim Contact Service asking for a thorough investigation into why this was allowed to happen."
"I will leave no stone unturned in attempting to get their questions answered."
The Parole Board do not comment on specific cases.
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