Drill rapper Kemani Duggan, 25, the son of gangster Mark Duggan, has been seen at a house music rave more than two years after receiving a five-year sentence for possessing a firearm. In a separate case, former building society cashier Kelly Kershaw, 54, who stole from vulnerable customers, has been released on home curfew after serving only a quarter of her 16-month sentence.
Neither of these early releases are connected to the Labour government's Sentencing Act, which allows for the early release of up to 5,000 prisoners to alleviate jail overcrowding. However, the decisions have drawn criticism, with one local in North Wales commenting that Kershaw's release offers "no deterrent" for potential offenders.
Kershaw, who worked as a cashier at Nationwide, used her position to steal at least £8,605 over 12 months by targeting elderly clients and a man with learning difficulties. She forged signatures and plundered accounts to fund lavish holidays to destinations such as Dubai, the Maldives, and Indonesia, frequently boasting about her trips on social media. She pleaded guilty to five counts of fraud between December 2023 and October 2024.
Kemani Duggan, also known as Bandokay, was sentenced in July 2024 to five years in prison for possessing a Cold War-era Zastava M57 Tokarev-type semi-automatic pistol and 22 rounds of ammunition. He was eligible for early release having already served nearly six months in custody on remand. His father, Mark Duggan, was shot and killed by police in 2011, an event that triggered widespread riots across London and other English cities.
The Tokarev pistol found with Duggan has a history of use in violent crimes. A similar weapon was used in a gangland murder in north London in 2020 and in the 1987 assassination of Palestinian cartoonist Naji al-Ali. Duggan admitted to possessing the gun and ammunition with intent to cause fear of violence, a lesser charge than the initial allegation of possessing it with intent to endanger life. Prosecutors had noted Duggan's association with the Original Farm Boys, described as a criminal gang, and stated that his fame as a drill artist made him a target. The judge acknowledged that Duggan had grounds to fear attack.
Authorities confirmed Duggan was released under standard arrangements. Kershaw's release on home detention curfew means she is subject to strict conditions and monitoring, with the Ministry of Justice stating that any breach would result in her return to prison.