Albert Bowers, one of the teenage killers of PC Andrew Harper, will remain in prison until at least March 2029, after his potential early release was blocked following a campaign by the officer's family. Bowers, now 24, was convicted of manslaughter for his role in the death of PC Harper, who was dragged to his death for over a mile in August 2019 after becoming trapped behind a fleeing vehicle towing a stolen quad bike.
Bowers also has a conviction for sexual assault, a detail that had not been widely publicized until recently. This revelation has added to the controversy surrounding prisoner release schemes aimed at alleviating overcrowding.
PC Harper, 28, was killed on the A4 Bath Road in Berkshire after responding to a burglary. The 19-year-old driver of the car, Henry Long, received a 16-year sentence for manslaughter, while Bowers and Jessie Cole, also teenagers at the time of the crime, received 13-year sentences. All three were acquitted of murder. The circumstances of PC Harper's death, including the horrific injuries he sustained, have been widely reported and led to a public petition against the early release of his killers.
Bowers is serving his sentence at HMP Frankland, a high-security prison in County Durham known as 'Monster Mansion' due to its inmate population, which includes serial killer Levi Bellfield and former police officer Wayne Couzens. According to a prison source, Bowers exhibits a disturbing lack of remorse for his actions and has, at times, acted as though he is the "king of the wing" due to the notoriety of killing a police officer. The source described Bowers as "evil, completely devoid of any morals or any humanity" and expressed conviction that he would kill again if released.
Despite initial bravado, Bowers reportedly backed down when confronted by another inmate and is now said to be protected by other travellers within the prison, indicating a sense of loyalty within that community. This protection is noted despite the taboo status of sex offenses within traveller communities, suggesting a complex social dynamic within the prison walls.
PC Harper was described as an "exemplary" officer, married just four weeks before his death. His widow, Lissie, and mother, Debbie Adlam, have been instrumental in campaigning against the early release of his killers, stating they felt "re-traumatised" by the process. The public reaction to the case was significant, with over a million people signing petitions. The family of PC Harper also called for the dismantling of the traveller site linked to the killers, which subsequently received a significant taxpayer-funded revamp.
Bowers and Cole are now expected to remain incarcerated until they complete two-thirds of their sentence, around March 2029, a development that many believe offers a measure of justice for PC Harper and his loved ones.