PC Harper's Widow Slams Killers' Early Release as 'Gut Punch' While Former Police Force Weighs Legal Action

PC HARPER’S widow has branded his killer’s release a “gut punch”, as his former police force considers joining legal action over early release.

Lissie Harper, 35, has slammed the decision to push ahead with plans that could see Jessie Cole and Albert Bowers freed.

Lissie Harper was widowed when her husband died Credit: PA PC Harper’s widowed wife branded the move a ‘gut punch’ Credit: PA

Both offenders could be let out just halfway through their 13-year sentences under Labour’s early release scheme, starting in October.

In 2019 Harper, 28, was fatally dragged by a car driven by Henry Long, 18, as it towed a stolen quad bike.

Long, Bowers and Cole, then 17, were found guilty of manslaughter. The younger pair got 13 years’ jail, Long got 16 and will stay in .

Today, Lissie slammed the pair’s potential release, saying: ” [The] Government has punched us in the gut.

Albert Bowers, who was jailed for manslaughter, is set to get early release Credit: PA Jessie Cole, also jailed for manslaughter, will get early release too Credit: PA

“They should be ashamed of themselves.

“Hopefully we can make the current Government come to their senses and realise we cannot put people like this back on our streets.

“Justice should mean justice and serving the sentence given.”

It comes as Thames Valley Chief Constable Jason Hogg said he was receiving legal advice on whether the force could join a legal challenge mounted by the local Police Federation to prevent their release.

Mr Burnham, who is , is facing growing fury over Labour’s early release scheme.

He launched an which aimed to ease pressure on packed jails but the plans are now set to be enacted starting in October.

Some 5,000 people are expected to be released early under sentencing changes.

This is down from 6,000 after the review, which saw ministers exempt rapists and “serious” child sex offenders as part of the scheme to tackle overcrowding in jails.

Mr Burnham said: “I wanted to go even further as I know there will still be concerns about other offenders having their sentence shortened.

“But it’s not possible without the prison system reaching capacity and collapsing, which would put public safety at much greater risk.”

Lissie and Andrew on their wedding day Credit: PA In 2019 PC Harper was fatally dragged by a car Credit: PA

Cole and Bowers, who were sentenced for the manslaughter of PC Harper, remain eligible for early release under the current plans.

More than 230,000 people have signed a petition launched on Tuesday demanding the Government takes action to keep the killers in jail.

Aileen O’Connor, who chairs the Thames Valley Police Federation, vowed to: “Throw everything at this through a proper legal challenge from KCs, barristers, you name it.”

Asked if he would join the legal challenge to keep the two thugs locked up, Thames Valley Police Chief Constable Jason Hogg said it was something he “certainly would consider.”

He went on: “I do think that the public is overwhelming in this matter, but I think it’s unfair and I do believe confidence in the criminal justice system risks being damaged.

“It’s right for the Government to have a look at this matter.”

Tory leader condemned the PM’s move to plough ahead with early release, which adds to the 70,000 who have been released early under various Labour schemes.

She said: “Andy Burnham wants a round of applause for agreeing not to release rapists and child sex offenders.

“He’s not getting one. This is only a partial climbdown.

“Killers, violent offenders, men who have terrorised their partners and more will all still walk out of prison in October.”

Meanwhile, Justice Minister Jake Richards said the killers would remain subject to the early release scheme from October as he faced broadcasters this morning.

He said: “It would be wrong to pick out individual cases within different offending cohorts.

“That wouldn’t be right. It wouldn’t be lawful either.

“I understand the strength of feeling from police officers generally, but of course within that force in particular after the awful incident with Pc Andrew Harper.

“If we do not have prison places available then the police, the good work that they do every day on the streets, finding perpetrators, locking them up, it would be impossible.”