Coronation Street Rapist Andrew Davies Dies in Prison
Andrew Davies, the serial rapist infamously known as the Coronation Street Rapist, has died while incarcerated. Previously identified as Andrew Barlow and Andrew Longmire, Davies was serving 13 life sentences for a series of brutal attacks that terrorised communities across northern England during the 1980s.
Victims Express Mixed Emotions
One victim, who was raped at knifepoint by Davies in her own bed in 1987, shared her conflicted feelings with the Manchester Evening News. "It's a relief... but it isn't. I still relive what he did to me. It is a very difficult feeling to handle," she stated. Her words underscore the lasting trauma inflicted by Davies' crimes.
A Prison Service spokesperson confirmed the death, noting, "These were despicable crimes, and our thoughts remain with the victims of Andrew Davies." Davies, aged 69, passed away from natural causes on February 28, 2026, at HMP Moorland, a category C prison near Doncaster. An investigation by the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman is underway, as is standard procedure for all deaths in custody.
A Troubled Release and Recall
Davies' case gained renewed attention when he was briefly released in March 2023 after serving 34 years. However, his freedom was short-lived; he was recalled to prison just six weeks later for breaching his licence conditions and exhibiting concerning behaviour. Authorities assessed that his risk to the public was unmanageable in the community.
In June 2024, Davies challenged his recall, but the Parole Board rejected his application in July of that year. A panel concluded he "would present a very high risk of a contact sexual offence at this time" and posed a "very high" risk of serious harm to others.
Public Outcry and Political Intervention
The possibility of Davies' release had sparked outrage among victims and their families, who campaigned to keep him imprisoned with support from veteran Manchester MP Graham Stringer. A relative of one victim remarked in 2024, "He is an unsafe rapist who hasn't changed in my eyes."
In January 2023, then Justice Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Dominic Raab intervened, asking the Parole Board to reconsider its decision to release Davies. Raab described the offences as "despicable" and emphasised public protection as his top priority. Following Davies' swift return to prison in April 2023, MP Stringer criticised the Parole Board, calling it an "institutional failure of the highest order" for not heeding warnings from victims and officials.
The Crimes and Their Legacy
Davies, originally from Bolton, was convicted in October 1988 for raping 11 women, receiving 11 life sentences plus 56 years for other crimes. Dubbed the Coronation Street Rapist, he primarily targeted women alone in their terraced houses, often after waiting for male family members to leave in the morning. His attacks spanned Greater Manchester, Cheshire, Staffordshire, Lancashire, and South Yorkshire.
In 2010 and 2017, advancements in DNA technology led to two additional life sentences for rapes committed in 1981 and 1982, though only minimal time was added to his sentence as he had already exceeded his original tariff. During his crime spree, Davies evaded police at Leeds railway station and later shot at two officers upon his arrest in Bebington, Merseyside, for which he was convicted of attempted murder.
The daughter of a victim from the early 1980s reflected on his recall, saying, "I was shocked when I heard that he was being recalled so soon. But then when I thought about how evil and twisted he was when committing his crimes it doesn't surprise me." She expressed relief that he was closely monitored, noting that his behaviour could have escalated.
This case highlights ongoing debates about parole systems, victim support, and public safety in the criminal justice system.
