Family of hero PC sickened by callous killer
THE family of hero PC Andrew Harper have blasted one of his killers – after the teen wrote a series of letters from behind bars moaning about missing out on family celebrations.
Albert Bowers, 18, also complained about being bored while he was in custody.
PC Harper’s family said the teenage thug, along with killers Henry Long, 19, and Jessie Cole,
‘All Bowers cares about is himself’
18, had robbed their family of a lifetime of memories.
Bowers sent birthday and Mother’s Day messages to his mother, Donna Bowers,
PC Harper’s grandfather Cyril Shrimpton, 84, blasted: “It’s all very well for Bowers to send his mother birthday cards and drawings because he’s bored in prison.
“But we’ll never again get a card or a phone call from our grandson Andrew. We’ll never be able to celebrate birthdays, Christmases or anniversaries together.
“No matter what sentence the judge passes on Friday it is our family that’s been left with the life sentence.
“The fact that Bowers is already talking about being out one day shows he’s got no insight into the devastation he caused. All he cares about is himself.”
PC Harper’s grandmother, Maureen Shrimpton, 77, said: “He was the perfect grandson. He should have gone home that night but he took the extra job on – that sums him up.
“He should’ve been off duty.
Nothing can bring Andrew back. We just hope that the judge hands down a sentence that shows that attacks on the police can’t be tolerated.they need protection.”
As he awaited trial, Bowers sent celebration cards home to his family. His mother, Donna, posted images of the cards on Facebook.
He said: “Mum I know it ain’t a birthday card but I had to send you... I know it probley wont [sic] [be] the best birthday but I’ll be out one day and we will have a better day wont [sic] we.”
He also said “I’ve been sat in me room bored.”
In a card to his sister, he moaned: “I wish I was out with ya.”
Meanwhile colleagues of PC Harper have demanded that the “cowardly criminals” responsible for his death receive sentences that reflect the “despicable crime”.
PC Harper died after being dragged for more than a mile when his ankles became entangled in a tow rope attached to the car driven by Long as he fled the scene of an attempted quad bike theft in Sulhamstead, Berkshire, on August 15 last year.
Long was cleared of murder at the Old Bailey on Friday. He had admitted manslaughter. His passengers, Bowers and Cole, were also found guilty of manslaughter.
Craig O’leary, chairman of Thames Valley Police Federation, said the organisation was “incredibly disappointed at the verdict” not being murder. He said the lack of remorse shown by the
‘We shall never forget Andrew’
defendants and some of their relatives was shocking.
He said: “We are upset that they were not murder convictions but it is for the jury to decide, and we do have to respect that decision.
“They will hopefully be receiving substantial prison sentences for their despicable crime next week. Andrew should have been going home that summer night to his wife and looking forward to a long and loving marriage, and a highly successful career.
“We shall never forget Andrew or his bravery that night.”