Murderer George Stephenson, who was jailed in 1987 for his role in the Fordingbridge mansion massacre, has bid for freedom turned down by Parole Board

A HANDYMAN who murdered four people in Fordingbridge in a case of “indescribable brutality and cruelty” has been turned down in his bid for freedom.

George Stephenson, now 72, was jailed in 1987 after being found guilty at Winchester Crown Court of being part of the horrific incident at Burgate House, dubbed the Fordingbridge mansion massacre.

A Parole Board hearing to consider his request for release was held last month, but the panel ruled Stephenson – who was also convicted of rape and robbery – was still too dangerous.

It also turned down a request to move him to an open prison.

When sentencing Stephenson, then 36, a judge recommended he spend at least 25 years in prison before he could bid for release.

But when that term expired in 2001 the then-Home Secretary Jack Straw said the crimes were so bad he upped the minimum time behind bars to 35 years.

In 2008 Stephenson was refused a request to put it back to the original 25 years.

Documents from the hearing, which took place on 29th November, state Stephenson maintains he was not responsible for the offences and had acted only as a driver for the others involved.

A Parole Board panel said it was likely Stephenson would reoffend “having considered the index offences, relevant patterns of previous offending and the other evidence before it”.

The panel added: “At the time of his offending, he had already engaged in quite a lengthy criminal career.

“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 Stephenson to be someone prepared to take risks, he lacked empathy and has the capacity for manipulation and deception.

It added: “The panel did not believe that Mr Stephenson’s level of risk had reduced sufficiently to warrant a progressive move.

“It doubted his likely compliance if he were to be released because Mr Stephenson appeared to consider that after 37 years in prison, his release was a matter of entitlement.”

Stephenson, originally from Coventry, was sent down with two other men: brothers John and George Daly.

On 1st September 1986 the trio interrupted a dinner party between Joseph Cleaver (82), a wealthy, reclusive, retired director of a publishing company; his disabled wife, Hilda, also 82; son Thomas (49); daughter-in-law Wendy (46); and live-in nurse, Margaret Murphy (70).

Joseph, Hilda, Thomas and Margaret were bound and gagged in an upstairs room where petrol was poured over them, and they were burned alive.

Wendy was taken to another bedroom and repeatedly raped before being strangled to death.

Stephenson had worked as a handyman at the house with his wife of 10 months, Fiona, but was sacked after he hit her in repeated rows three weeks before the killings.

Armed with pick-axe handles, stocking masks and rubber gloves, he and the Daly brothers made off after the raid with shotguns, a .22 rifle and electrical items.

Stephenson went on the run and Hampshire police launched a large manhunt to find him.

He gave himself up two days later at Roundhills campsite in Brockenhurst, after travelling down from Coventry, drinking at the Foresters Arms and smoking pot with two nurses on a camping holiday.

After deliberating for nine hours, jurors unanimously found Stephenson guilty of four of the murders, rape and robbery.

John Daly, who admitted rape and robbery, was found guilty of murdering all five.

George Daly, who had admitted rape and robbery from the outset, was found guilty of the manslaughter of Joseph, Hilda and Thomas..

The judge, Mr Justice Hobhouse, branded the crimes as acts of indescribable brutality and cruelty.

After the case concluded, Burgate House was demolished.