'We Are Devastated': Mother Of Dead Police Officer Furious As Killers Freed Early

1 month ago 14

A memorial to PC Andrew Harper near Reading, Berkshire.

The mother of a police officer killed in the line of duty has said “we are devastated” after it was confirmed two of the men convicted of his manslaughter will still be released early from prison.

Debbie Adlam spoke out after Andy Burnham announced that rapists, serious child sex offenders and those convicted of grooming offences will not be let out early following an angry backlash.

However, killers will still serve shorter shorter sentences amid fears prisons could run out of places.

That means two of the three men convicted over the death of PC Andrew Harper in 2019 will still be eligible for early release.

PC Harper was 28 years old when he sustained fatal injuries while responding to a quad bike theft in Sulhamstead, Berkshire.

The driver of the vehicle which caused his death, Henry Long, received a 16-year sentence, and will not be eligible for early release.

But Jessie Cole and Albert Bowers, who were passengers in the car and handed 13 years in custody for manslaughter after a trial at the Old Bailey in 2020, could be let out early.

On the BBC’s Newsnight on Monday, Debbie Adlam said: “We are devastated with Andrew’s loss for every day of our lives now. We’re devastated.

“Now it’s just another thing to be devastated [by] on top, so we’ll just have to process it and do our best.”

She said justice secretary Alex Norris had phoned to let her know that two of those convicted over her son’s death would still be released early.

“He could definitely hear the way I felt,” she said. “I was getting more angry as we went along because I just felt I had more and more questions.”

The early release scheme will now begin in October rather than September after Burnham announced it was being reviewed.

He said he “wanted to go even further”, but couldn’t without the prison system collapsing.

The PM said: “I fully understand the anger, anxiety and distress that’s been caused. I’ve heard that loud and clear.

“That’s why we’re making significant changes: offenders who have been sentenced for rape, serious child sex offences and other grooming offences will be excluded from the changes.

“I want to be honest – I wanted to go even further as I know there will still be concerns about other offenders having their sentence shortened.

“But it’s not possible without the prison system reaching capacity and collapsing, which would put public safety at much greater risk.”

He said “tougher community measures” will be introduced for those released early.

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