Debbie Adlam, the mother of hero PC Andrew Harper, has appealed to Prime Minister Andy Burnham not to allow two of her son's killers early release from prison. She stated that freeing Jessie Cole and Albert Bowers halfway through their 13-year sentences would deny PC Harper 'proper justice' and could exacerbate future problems due to high reoffending rates.
PC Harper died in August 2019 when he was dragged for more than a mile by a car driven by his teenage killers as they fled the scene of a quad bike theft in Berkshire. He was responding to the theft just before he was due to finish his shift and before starting his honeymoon, having been married for only four weeks. His injuries were so severe that initial responders mistook him for a deer carcass.
Cole and Bowers, who were 17 at the time, were convicted of manslaughter and sentenced to 13 years in custody in 2020. Their sentences were reduced from 20 years due to their age and immaturity. The judge described them as 'unintelligent, but professional criminals'. The driver, Henry Long, received a life sentence with a minimum of 16 years and is not eligible for early release under current plans.
Adlam expressed that the prospect of early release feels like 'another letdown for Andrew' and that her family has already endured the justice system, feeling let down by sentence reductions. She urged the Prime Minister to consider the broader implications for the country, warning that releasing prisoners to alleviate overcrowding could be 'bottling up problems for the future'.
Prime Minister Burnham is currently reviewing the early release scheme, part of the Sentencing Act due to come into force on September 2, following public outcry over the potential release of Cole and Bowers. Under existing plans, they could be eligible for release in approximately six months.
Lissie Harper, PC Harper's widow, has previously described the early release scheme as 'deplorable' and criticized politicians for overlooking victims' families.
