Agony goes on for 31-year-old sent to jail at age of 17

THE HEARING HIS HOPES WERE PINNED ON IS PUT OFF UNTIL 2020

‘TRAPPED’ prisoner Danny Weatherson has suffered another blow after his parole hearing was adjourned until 2020.

Behind bars for more than 14 years, Danny had fresh hope when he was told his parole hearing was earlier this month.

But the Scotswood lad man has now been informed he will stand in front of a parole board in February and has secured a human rights solicitor to fight his cause.

Danny is among the thousands caught up in the controversial Imprisonment for Public Protection (IPP) sentences, which came into force for England and Wales in 2005 but were axed in 2012.

And his dad, Maurice Stevens, is raising funds to employ a human rights solicitor to give his son the best chance of freedom and end his nightmare.

He set up a GoFundMe page to raise the £750 cash needed to pay for the specialist lawyer and he hopes Danny will be back on the outside next year.

“We have lost count of how many parole hearings he has been to and this time it was adjourned,” said Maurice, of Throckley, Newcastle. “Now we have human rights lawyer Kushal Sood to represent Danny. We feel he has more of a chance now than ever before.

“Kushal has booked an appointment to see Danny in HMP Northumberland on November 15 to discuss his case. Kushal is also getting an expert to write a report on what this is doing to Danny’s mental health.”

Mr Sood said: “Danny is not eligible for Legal Aid but I plan to represent him at his Parole Board hearing.”

Originally a judge recommended Danny serve just over 15 months for two attempted robberies before he could apply for parole. But the devastated 31-year-old is still behind bars.

He and his family, led by Maurice, have teamed up with digital activist and YouTuber Pepsi Watson, who is a former IPP prisoner himself, as they fight for justice.

“Danny was sentenced to a 15-month IPP sentence for attempted robbery of a coat and mobile telephone back in 2005 at 17 years old. Fourteen years later my son is still locked up for the same crime because of the injustice of the IPP sentence,” said Maurice.

“We are not trying to justify Danny’s initial crime and understand, as does Danny, that there should be consequences, but these consequences should fit the crime and the sentences should be appropriate.

“Danny has served longer than some prisoners have served who have been found guilty of heinous crimes such as murder and rape.”

Despite the 15-month sentence, it took 11 years and nine months for Danny to be released – only to be flung back inside. 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 was knocked over but would not co-operate with police.

And only weeks later, he was recalled to prison.

Dad-of-12 Maurice, 47, said: “Danny really doesn’t know what to think. It is not good for his mental state. He really should be out now. “In the past he’s tried to commit suicide. He had his parole knocked back again earlier this year and then adjourned in October. He has served long enough and we hope he will be released in February.”

The Chronicle has followed Danny’s plight over the years and after he was returned to jail in 2017 our caring readers sent him dozens of cards.

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.

He had taken to self-harm to get through his dark days, but 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.

Earlier this year, a Parliamentary report said there were approximately 2,400 prisoners serving IPP sentences.

The Chief Inspector of Prisons, Peter Clarke, has said the implementation of the sentences was “flawed”.

Maurice Stevens

Danny Weatherson

For attempted robbery Danny has served longer than some who have been found guilty of murder