Peter Chester

Overview

Peter Chester (born 1955 in Blackpool, Lancashire, England) was a convicted murderer. He was also known as Peter Chester Speakman. He was a married man.

Chester raped and murdered his niece, Donna-Marie Gillbanks (aged seven). The killing took place at the home of Chester’s sister, June Gillbanks, in October 1977.

Chester fled the flat on Mickleden Road, having left Donna-Marie in her bed. Donna-Marie was later discovered by her mother.

The offence

Donna-Marie Gillbanks was seven years old when she was raped and murdered. She was found strangled at her home in Blackpool in 1977.

June Gillbanks was Chester’s sister and Donna-Marie’s mother. June said that she was haunted by her daughter’s death and that she had flashbacks of finding her body in her bedroom.

After the offence, Chester placed Donna-Marie back under the bed covers as though she were asleep and put his favourite cuddly toy alongside her.

Chester had lived on Lytham Road, South Shore, when he raped and murdered Donna-Marie in her own bed at the family flat in Mickleden Road in October 1977.

Investigation

Chester had denied raping and killing Donna-Marie at trial.

Arrest

Chester was jailed in 1977 for raping and strangling his niece in Blackpool and was deemed too dangerous to be allowed out of jail on licence.

Trial

Chester pleaded not guilty to the murder at his trial in March 1978. A jury unanimously found him guilty.

At Chester Crown Court in March 1978, Chester was found guilty of rape and murder.

Chester was sentenced to life imprisonment with a recommended minimum of 20 years.

Sentencing

Chester received a life sentence with a recommended minimum term of 20 years.

Appeals

Chester launched a legal challenge to gain prisoners the right to vote in October 2009. Three judges unanimously dismissed his case and refused him permission to go to the Supreme Court.

A Court of Appeal hearing took place after the government said it had no choice but to give “some prisoners” the vote following a European court ruling.

The European Court of Human Rights had ruled that the current blanket ban on serving prisoners from voting was incompatible with the European Convention on Human Rights. Chester’s legal team argued that denying him a vote was a “disproportionate” reaction and violated human rights.

During the legal challenge, Mr Justice Burton threw out Chester’s claim and refused permission to appeal.

Verbatim statements from judges and lawyers:

“The application is hopeless.”
— Mr Justice Burton

“The application is wholly inappropriate” and offensive.

“fairness demands an oral hearing for Mr Chester”.
— Flo Krause

In December 2010, Chester lost his appeal over his right to vote.

Other legal challenges: parole and related hearings

Chester served more than 30 years in prison. Parole Board reports stated that the risk he posed was still too high for him to be granted parole.

Chester had made seven applications for parole or to be sent to a less secure jail, all of which were rejected.

The latest review took place in May (year not specified in the record). The Parole Board found that he was unsuitable for release or for a recommendation that he should be transferred to open conditions.

Chester applied for an oral hearing with the Parole Board to assess the risk he posed, but the request was turned down again.

Judge John Behrens upheld Chester’s challenge at the High Court. Judge Behrens ruled that Chester had the right for his appeal to be heard by the Parole Board and told the High Court that Chester deserved an oral hearing before the Parole Board.

Verbatim statements from June Gillbanks and other individuals:

“In 2006, the Parole Board hearing said he was still considered a very high risk to children, the public and known adults.”
— June Gillbanks

“totally devastated”.

“I would like to be at the parole hearing so I can speak for my daughter Donna Marie,”

“He is entitled to everything and I am entitled to nothing and that is what I don't like.”

“It has been nothing like a nice life at all. Obviously I think about her every day,”

In April 2011, June Gillbanks said she believed her brother was still a risk, despite him claiming he had changed.

Chester told the judge at the High Court that he had changed and that he had served more than 30 years in prison.

Verbatim statements from Chester:

“why he has changed over 30 years in prison”
— Chester (as described in court representations)

Chester submitted representations to the judge and said that he would have a completely different lifestyle if released and that he had a “realistic release plan”.

Outcome

Chester remained imprisoned more than 30 years after his conviction. The Parole Board had refused to release him on licence from Wakefield Prison.

Chester had lost his vote bid after the Court of Appeal dismissed his case and refused permission to go to the Supreme Court. Ministers were considering changing the law for prisoners to have the vote based on European Court of Human Rights developments.

Aftermath

June Gillbanks campaigned to keep her brother behind bars and started a petition to “make sure life means life”. She planned to take the petition to the House of Commons and also described protesting at Trafalgar Square.

June Gillbanks said she wanted to set up a support group in Blackpool run by victims, for victims, because she said it was too far to travel to Liverpool given her disability.

She said she had arthritis and ME, and she described having suffered from stress since her daughter was murdered.

June’s campaign included a visit to Downing Street. In 1999, she travelled to London to join a rally supporting MAMA – Mothers Against Murder and Aggression.

Verbatim statements from June Gillbanks:

“I'm feeling strong now and I want people to know I'm there for them.”

“There needs to be a group in Blackpool run by victims, for victims.”

“I'm disabled now and it's too far to go to Liverpool,”

“so it's important for there to be a support group in Blackpool.”

“But not just for me, for the many other people who have to deal with similar things.”

“What we need now is a room to hold the meetings and help getting office administration together. Then we can start helping people.”

“Life should mean life. Small prison sentences are no deterrent. The only way they can be sure that they won't re-offend is by not letting them out.”

“I'll take the petition down to London, I'll protest at Trafalgar Square.”

“I want to set this support group up and get a petition going in memory of Donna.”

“But it's not just for my precious daughter, it's for all the other children and their families too.”

“Things like this spilt families up and break up marriages.”

“I want to help people and listen to them.”

In May 2008, June Gillbanks said her brother’s parole application would be considered “this summer”.

June described that “There have been so many since my precious Donna was taken from me and sadly there will be more in the future. It must stop now.”

Support group planning included statements from Rose Dixon of SAMM:

“We would be delighted to speak with Miss Gillbanks about setting up a group in Blackpool.”
— Rose Dixon

“We would arrange a training day and then an introduction meeting where members could meet the local contact as well as representatives from the Parole Board and Victim Support.”

People involved

• Peter Chester (also known as Peter Chester Speakman) — convicted murderer; married man; convicted of rape and murder of his niece.
• Donna-Marie Gillbanks — victim; seven-year-old niece of Peter Chester; was raped and murdered; found strangled at her home in Blackpool in 1977.
• June Gillbanks — sister of Peter Chester; mother of Donna-Marie Gillbanks; campaigned to keep Chester imprisoned.

Timeline

• October 1977 — Chester raped and murdered his niece Donna-Marie Gillbanks at the home of his sister June Gillbanks; he fled the flat on Mickleden Road leaving Donna-Marie in her bed.
• March 1978 — Chester Crown Court found Chester guilty of rape and murder; he was sentenced to life imprisonment with a recommended minimum term of 20 years.
• October 2009 — Chester launched a legal challenge to gain prisoners the right to vote.
• May 2010 — The Parole Board carried out a review “on paper” finding Chester unsuitable for release and unsuitable for transfer to open conditions.
• December 17, 2010 — Chester lost his appeal over his right to vote; three judges unanimously dismissed his case and refused permission to appeal to the Supreme Court.
• April 4, 2011 — Judge John Behrens upheld Chester’s challenge, granting the right to an oral hearing before the Parole Board.
• April 5, 2011 — June Gillbanks said she believed Chester should never be released and described being “totally devastated”.
• May 23, 2008 — June Gillbanks described campaigning for life sentences meaning life and support group planning.

Other details

Chester had passed his minimum 20 year tariff, but the Parole Board refused to release him on licence from Wakefield Prison.

The legal campaign on voting followed another prisoner, John Hirst, who won his 2005 case at the European Court of Human Rights. Hirst successfully argued that the bar on all prisoners voting was discriminatory because it did not take into account rehabilitation.

The Ministry of Justice consultation set out options including allowing prisoners sentenced to up to four years the right to vote. Ministers categorically ruled out giving the vote to anyone serving more than four years or jailed for life.

During Chester’s vote challenge, Lord Justice Laws, Lord Justice Carnwath, and the Master of the Rolls, Lord Neuberger dismissed his appeal.

Chester had been known as Peter Chester Speakman in the voting proceedings.

June Gillbanks said she had been ill for a long time after Donna’s murder and described that Donna was her world. She said she had “got my strength back” and was fed up of “innocent children getting murdered, strangled and raped.”