Still ‘trapped’ on an indefinite sentence
15 YEARS INTO A ‘15-MONTH’ TERM
‘TRAPPED’ prisoner Danny Weatherson has taken another blow as he continues to fight for his release after almost 15 years behind bars.
And his solicitor says it’s a “joke” how he’s being treated as he fights to get him home.
Danny was due to get his parole hearing heard on July 27 in front of a panel with him and his specialist human rights solicitor by his side.
But now the pair have been told that hearing has been cancelled and a paperonly hearing was held behind closed doors where they declined his release.
Now his solicitor Kushal Sood has 21 days to challenge the decision while also challenging another decision made last month by the governor of HMP Northumberland in Acklington, where Danny is being held, saying he couldn’t have a compassionate temporary release during the Covid-19 crisis.
Danny, 31, is among the thousands serving controversial Imprisonment for Public Protection (IPP) sentences, which came into force for England and Wales in 2005 but were axed in 2012.
Originally, a judge recommended Danny, who is bipolar and was just 17 at the time, serve just over 15 months for two attempted robberies of a coat and mobile phone before he could apply for parole. But he is still behind bars almost 15 years later.
While being inside Danny’s mental health has deteriorated and he has tried to take his own life and self-harm.
“I am challenging the decision [Parole board hearing] and I have 21 days for them to reconsider,” said Mr Sood.
“I am also challenging the decision with regards to his compassionate temporary release with the Secretary for State for Justice.”
Mr Sood is arguing that over a long period of time, IPP prison sentences are especially harmful to prisoners.
“Danny is self-harming and is attempting suicide. We have put a package together involving mutual aid groups and a programme of people willing to support him in the Newcastle area,” added Mr Sood.
He says IPP prisoners are already a vulnerable group and being in lockdown they have more stresses to cope with. He feels it’s time Danny should be let out.
He added: “You have a guy [Danny] where his entire body is covered in horrific scars and he’s been treated as a joke.
“Every time I speak to him, it’s like talking him down off a roof.”
Danny’s dad Maurice Stevens says his son is “broken” and he fears he will attempt suicide again.
He said: “Danny rang me heartbroken. “He’s been waiting for an oral hearing where he and his solicitor can put his case forward to the parole board verbally. But now he’s been told that instead of him having his hearing in July they’ve very, very wrongly decided to abandon that hearing and instead held a paper hearing behind closed doors with no solicitor or anyone present.
“I am worried sick about his mental state. He’s hanging on a thread and I’m worried he’ll try and kill himself again.”
Danny, from Scotswood, Newcastle, is also suffering blood clots on his lungs and is under medical attention.
The Sunday Sun has followed Danny’s plight over the years and we told how after being locked up for 11 years and nine months Danny was released – only to be jailed again.
He got out on July 3, 2017, and was told to spend three months in a hostel in Leeds before being allowed to return to home soil in Newcastle.
Frustrated about not being with his family, without benefits and miles away from home, his dad says it is understood Danny committed criminal damage and declared he was struggling with his metal well being. Only weeks later, he was recalled to prison.
Dad-of-12 Maurice, 47, of Crawcrook, Gateshead, added: “Danny was sentenced to a 15-month IPP sentence for attempted robbery of a coat and mobile telephone back in the summer of 2005, aged 17 years old.
“Almost 15 years later, my son is still locked up for the same crime because of the injustice of the IPP sentence.”
We also told how Danny had spent time inside in high-security prisons including HMP Northumberland, HMP Moorlands in Doncaster, HMP Armley in Leeds, HMP Frankland in Durham and HMP Hull. Danny’s family revealed the parole board said he could be moved to a category D open prison.
However, just weeks later, he was told the prison that had been chosen was changed and Danny tried to kill himself as his hopes were shattered.
Last year, a parliamentary report established that there were approximately 2,400 prisoners serving IPP sentences.