Stuart Blaik, the detective who led the inquiry into PC Andrew Harper's death, said he is "appalled" that two of the men convicted of manslaughter—Jessie Cole and Albert Bowers—may qualify for early release under revised government plans to reduce prison overcrowding. Each was jailed for 13 years and could become eligible after serving half their term instead of two-thirds. Blaik and PC Harper's widow, Lissie, have urged the government to exclude those judged highly culpable in manslaughter cases from the scheme.
Former Lead Investigator 'Appalled' That Two Convicted Over PC Andrew Harper May Be Eligible For Early Release
Albert Bowers (left) and Jessie Cole (centre) seen leaving court in 2019 are eligible to be freed under the early release scheme [PA]
Stuart Blaik, the detective superintendent who led the Thames Valley Police inquiry into the death of PC Andrew Harper, has told BBC Breakfast he is "appalled" that two of the men convicted over the case could become eligible for early release next year under revised government plans aimed at easing prison overcrowding.
Background
PC Andrew Harper, 28, from Wallingford, Oxfordshire, died in 2019 after sustaining catastrophic injuries when he was dragged behind the getaway vehicle of three teenagers who fled the scene of a quad-bike theft. He had married his wife, Lissie, just four weeks earlier.
Police officer Andrew Harper suffered fatal injuries while on duty in 2019 [PA Media]
Investigation Lead Speaks Out
Jessie Cole and Albert Bowers were each given 13-year sentences for manslaughter. Under the proposed changes, they would become eligible for release after serving half their sentences instead of the previous two-thirds threshold. The detective, Stuart Blaik, described the prospect as "particularly hard to understand" and said officers were shocked by the possibility.
Mr Justice Edis said the manslaughter verdict was "very close to a case of murder in its seriousness." Blaik has urged the government to exclude prisoners judged to have had a high level of culpability in manslaughter cases from any early-release scheme.
Family Reaction
PC Harper's widow, Lissie Harper, has been publicly campaigning against early release for Cole and Bowers and is supporting a petition seeking to keep them behind bars for the full terms handed down by the courts. She said: "Justice should mean justice and serving the sentence given."
PC Harper married Lissie just four weeks before he was killed [PA Media]
Government Position And Wider Impact
The government says the revision is intended to avoid running out of prison spaces as early as October and has excluded certain sexual offences—such as rape, grooming and serious child sexual offences—from the early-release scheme. Justice Secretary Alex Norris has said around 1,000 prisoners would no longer be released early because of these exclusions. He added that those released on licence would face "very significant controls on their lives" and that victims would be consulted.
The driver of the getaway car, Henry Long, received a 16-year sentence for the same offence and will not be eligible for early release under the revised plans.
What's At Stake
Blaik warned that allowing the most culpable offenders in manslaughter cases to be released early could "undermine" the judicial process and damage police morale. He urged ministers to reassess the policy to ensure it reflects the seriousness of particularly grave cases.
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