Age: 34 (54 after sentence)
Sex: male
Crime: murder (repeat offender)
Date Of Sentence: 30 Nov 1988 (for 19 years, 4 months, 12 days)
End Of Full Sentence: 11 Apr 2008
Place: unknown
Source: webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk
Keith Pollard first murdered Violet May Thompson when he was 18 and was sentenced to life on 29th November 1972.
Two years after release from jail for his first murder he murdered Andrea Sinclair 19 on 5th April 1988. He picked-up Andrea Sinclair, a prostitute and crack addict and went to his place. It was thought that she probably took some money from his wallet and that he then strangled her with a tie.
After that he cut off a nipple from the body, and stayed in his flat with the body for more than a day. He pleaded ‘self defence’ saying that he was attacked by Andrea Sinclair with two knives. However, it was thought that that was most unlikely and the jury did not accept the defence. Although there were no medical issues in the trial itself, the judge drew attention to medical evidence from two psychiatrists suggesting that Keith Pollard was evidently a man with 'perverse sexual interests'. The judge added that Keith Pollard was obviously very depressed and subdued at trial.
The first murder was committed when he was aged 18, and involved the killing of Violet Thompson in her own home, who he stabbed more than 70 times after breaking into her house. On 17 June 1983 he was released on life licence. On 22 April 1985 in the Rochdale Magistrates’ Court, he was sentenced to two months imprisonment for offences of dishonesty. On 23 May 1985 his life licence was revoked and he served a further period in custody until he was again released on life licence on 10 February 1986 after which he murdered Andrea Sinclair.
