Albert Bowers, one of the men convicted in the 2019 manslaughter of PC Andrew Harper, is reportedly also a convicted sex offender. Bowers, 24, was among those considered eligible for early release from prison under a scheme introduced in September 2024.
PC Harper died in August 2019 after he became caught in a strap attached to a vehicle fleeing the scene of a quad bike theft in Sulhamstead, Berkshire. Bowers and Jessie Cole were serving 13-year sentences for manslaughter and were eligible for release after serving half their sentences. Henry Long, the driver, is serving a 16-year sentence.
Following public outcry, Prime Minister Andy Burnham announced that individuals convicted of unlawful killing, including all forms of manslaughter, would be excluded from the early release scheme. Those convicted of historic child sex offenses and indecent assault were also subsequently excluded.
According to reports, Bowers is listed in prison records as a 'sex offender,' 'violent,' and 'racist.' A source told The Sun that this indicates he posed a danger to society and women, and may have committed sex offenses before his incarceration. Such offenses, if committed before he was 18, would be subject to anonymity laws, but authorities would be aware of them.
Another accomplice, Jessie Cole, was reportedly deemed a 'risk to staff' by prison officials. Bowers and Cole were passengers in the car that dragged PC Harper to his death.
The early release scheme was implemented to address prison overcrowding, allowing eligible inmates to be freed after serving 40% of their sentence instead of the usual 50%. The government has stated that the scheme is expected to result in approximately 5,000 releases, a reduction from an initial estimate of 6,000 following the exclusion of certain offender categories.
PC Harper's mother, Debbie Adlam, expressed gratitude for the decision to exclude offenders from the scheme, stating the family had endured several traumatic months. The chairwoman of the Thames Valley Police Federation, Aileen O'Connor, called the initial consideration of the killers for early release shocking and welcomed the government's eventual decision to keep them incarcerated, noting the overwhelming public and policing opposition.
Prime Minister Burnham has also excluded rapists and child sex offenders from the early release scheme since taking office. The government plans to create additional prison capacity by deporting foreign nationals and releasing inmates serving indefinite Imprisonment for Public Protection (IPP) sentences.