Stoke on Trent Criminals Get Early Release to Ease Prison Pressure

Some criminals in Stoke-on-Trent will get out of prison early because the government wants to reduce jail overcrowding. Some will serve only 40% of their sentence in prison, previously they served 50%. After prison, they will be supervised in the community. This change started in September and will be reviewed.

This change does not apply to serious crimes. Sex offenses, violent crimes, terrorist acts, and national security offenses are excluded. Also excluded are domestic abuse crimes like stalking.

Burglars and drug dealers will be released early in Stoke-on-Trent. Two men who did a violent attack will also be released.

Simon Beech was jailed for 27 months for violent disorder, which happened during unrest in Hanley. He previously tried to blow up a mosque and shouted offensive things at the protest. Beech will serve about 10 months in jail, with time already spent in custody counting.

Gary Betts and Nicola Clewes were jailed for burglary, targeting elderly women. Clewes pushed her way into a woman’s house, demanded money, and took it. They also went to another woman’s home uninvited, and made toast and cornflakes. Betts will serve 40% of his 40-month sentence.

Freddie Carruthers broke into a flat with a woman inside. He smiled and said he was “high on life”, then climbed out of the window. The court jailed Carruthers for 25 months, and he will serve 40% of his sentence.

Simon Davison was a drug dealer. Police found cannabis worth £18,000 to £20,000 at his home. Later, they found cocaine, cannabis, scales, and a phone. Davison was jailed for two years and eight months, and he will serve 40% of that time.

Yousef Ahmed and Wleed Mohmed attacked two men, kicking and punching them outside a nightclub. Ahmed assaulted a woman first, then Mohmed got involved. Both men kicked the victims when they were unconscious. Ahmed got 40 months, Mohmed got 45. They will serve 40% of their sentences.