ONE of East Lancashire’s most notorious killers has lost his first bid for freedom.

A change in the law meant Anthony Entwistle, who was jailed for life for the murder of Blackburn schoolgirl Michelle Calvy, could apply for parole after serving 25 years behind bars.

Michelle’s family said they were ‘extremely relieved’ to hear that the authorities had refused to set him free. But they now fear he may be moved to a lower category prison in his hope of one day being released.

Michelle’s brother Paul Calvy, who lives in the Intack area of Blackburn said: “Thank God he didn’t get out.

“He is clearly trying to work the system.

“In my eyes, life should mean life. He should die in prison, just as the first judge said.

“Entwistle took my sister who was also a daughter and a friend of many 25 years ago and nothing will ever bring her back.

“He murdered Michelle just 17 days after being released from prison for raping someone else.

“How can a man like that ever be released into the community?”

In 1987, Entwistle abducted the 16-year-old Witton Park High School pupil from a canal towpath before raping and strangling her and then dumping her body at a Tockholes beauty spot, in a crime that shocked the town.

Much to the Calvy family’s disappointment, Entwistle, now 63, will be able to reapply for parole, and the opportunity to be moved to a low security prison, every two years.

Despite currently being held in a maximum security prison, Entwistle is hoping to move to an open prison.

Open prisons house offenders near the end of their sentences, who are deemed ‘rehabilitated’ and ready to rejoin the community.

Many offenders in this type of custody are offered day release to hold down a job.

Father-of-two Mr Calvy, 43, said: “I think it is pathetic he gets to apply for parole and the chance to move prisons every two years.

“You hear lots about killers living amongst children in the community.

“Just look what has happened with that little April Jones in Wales.

“I think children and teenagers are much more vulnerable nowadays because of the anonymous contact available through the internet and sites like Facebook and Twitter.

“It’s clear these types of killers don’t change. Entwistle showed that when he killed Michelle.

“We will fight tooth and nail to keep him behind bars.

“The parole process takes so long to be heard, Entwistle will be able to apply again in February.

“This is obviously very upsetting and we shouldn’t have to keep going through this.“ After learning Entwistle was eligible for parole, Mr Calvy and his family launched a petition to keep him behind bars.

Mr Calvy said: “We still go to the cemetery on Michelle’s birthday, Easter, Christmas and the anniversary of her death.

“She will never be forgotten.”

Michelle, of Brookway, off Livesey Branch Road, Blackburn was killed in April 1987.

Entwistle, who lived in Thwaites Road, Oswaldtwistle, had served two separate prison sentences for rapes before he murdered Michelle.

He killed her just weeks after being released from a seven-year jail term.

Entwistle was told by the original trial judge he would die in prison when he was sentenced in 1988.

At the time he was one of 35 murderers told they would never be released.

But four years ago a review at the High Court found that he should be eligible for consideration for parole after serving 25 years in prison.

The judge ruled that a 25-year tariff was sufficient for the purposes of ‘retribution and deterrence’ and that it was up to the Parole Board to decide that Entwistle did not pose a danger to the public.

A spokesman for the Parole Board said they were unable to comment on the case of an individual prisoner.