[Cherie]

Prison bosses have been criticised for denying a mother jailed over last summer’s riots the right to spend temporary leave at home with her daughter and sick husband.

Lucy Connolly, who was imprisoned for 31 months for inciting racial hatred in a tweet, has been forced to wait four months in her attempts to secure release on temporary licence, despite being described by one prison expert as an “ideal candidate” for such home leave.

Documents seen by The Telegraph suggest that the 42-year-old childminder from Northampton has not yet been granted the leave amid concerns over public and media interest in her case rather than any apparent failure to meet the criteria for temporary release.

In her appeal, Connolly cited a deterioration in her 12-year-old daughter’s school behaviour, which is “totally out of character”, and the stress being placed on her sick husband, Ray, a Tory councillor who is suffering from bone marrow failure.

Connolly was arrested after posting on X hours after the Southport killings. She spoke of mass deportations and setting fire to asylum hotels “for all I care”.

She added: “I feel physically sick knowing what these [Southport] families will now have to endure. If that makes me racist so be it.”

Connolly took the post down within four hours, but not before it had been viewed 310,000 times and screenshots taken. She was interviewed by police on Aug 6 and charged three days later. She has been in jail since, having pleaded guilty and then sentenced in October.

She has been eligible for release on temporary licence since last November, based on her prison time served. This form of release is open to inmates as a way to “rebuild family ties” and allows for up to two overnight home stays a month.

The only offenders excluded under prison rules include category A prisoners, many serving time for violent, terrorist and sexual crimes, those formally listed as escape risks, and suspects facing extradition.

Asked to assess the process, Ian Acheson, a former prison governor who has advised the Government on extremism in jails, said: “The apparent foot-dragging over consideration for release on temporary licence is concerning.

“It can’t be right that someone who is otherwise eligible is not being considered because of either the prison’s failure to properly risk assess or her ‘notoriety’. It would be perfectly possible for prison authorities to set conditions that precludes any media exposure.

“In my opinion, and given the offence details and the background to her custodial behaviour I have seen, she ought to be an ideal candidate for early release to allow her reintegration to start. Many more risky individuals are walking free as a result of Labour’s emergency mass release legislation.”

‘Victim of two-tier justice’
Richard Tice, the deputy leader of Reform UK, said: “Lucy is the victim of two-tier justice because she is white and Sir Keir Starmer ordered the judiciary to impose stiff sentences last August. It is as simple as that.

“She should be released. Real criminals convicted of violent crimes are being let out while she is detained.”

Prison service sources denied that Connolly’s application for release on temporary licence had been blocked and said it was being considered by the governor at HMP Drake Hall in Staffordshire, to which Connolly has recently been transferred.

A spokesman said: “Decisions on release on temporary licence and home detention curfew are made following uncompromising risk assessments to prioritise public safety.

“These are discretionary schemes, and each case is rigorously scrutinised, considering the severity of the offence, the prisoner’s conduct and the potential impact on victims and the community.”


This seems particularly harsh given her husband is ill? and has Ricky Jones served any time yet? As I understand it his case wont be heard until September

The Telegraph

nope good old Ricky is still walking the streets

https://www.standard.co.uk/news/crim...-b1205817.html