Father who was jailed for 20 years for stealing a Nokia phone is to be released

A father who has spent 20 years in prison serving an indefinite sentence over stealing a mobile phone is to be released – but his family say his life has been ‘stolen’ from him.

Leroy Douglas, 45, was one of five prisoners whose cases were examined by the UN, which found that keeping them in jail amounted to arbitrary detention under international law.

Despite completing the minimum term of two and a half years set by the court in 2005, Leroy remains behind bars under the controversial Imprisonment for Public Protection (IPP) system.

His release next month comes amid growing pressure to scrap IPP sentences, with Prime Minister Andy Burnham vowing to end them before the current Parliament concludes.

For Leroy’s family, however, the developments have come after two decades of waiting – with the father missing out on multiple life events, including the passing of his teenage daughter.

‘It’s like they’ve just locked him up and thrown the key away, and just forgotten about him,’ his sister Nathalie Douglas told the Daily Mail. 

‘His life has been stolen from him, just for stealing a mobile phone.’

She continued: ‘He has been in for so long. It’s just been horrible not having my brother, and growing up together, isn’t it? And my mum not having her son there. All my family missed him.

‘I know it was wrong for him to steal, but taking a Nokia phone? He never used any violence. 

‘But, I know that’s not an excuse. I know this, but he just took a Nokia phone and 20 years for a phone – that’s barbaric. That’s crazy.’

Leroy spent time in HMP Stocken in Stretton, Rutland, and now waits in HMP Erlestoke, in Wiltshire, before he is to be transferred to a hostel in October – which is hours away from his family.

Among the many milestones he has missed in prison was the devastating passing of one of his daughters, who died at the age of 19. 

‘He has two daughters. One passed away when she was 19,’ Nathalie said. ‘My brother hasn’t been able to even grieve for her.’

Leroy was convicted for crimes including shoplifting as a teenager and young man. He was then sentenced for stealing a mobile phone from his cousin’s boyfriend, while addicted to drugs.  

Instead of a fixed term two and a half year custody sentence, Leroy was sentenced under the IPP system – introduced in 2005 for offenders considered dangerous but whose crimes were not serious enough to warrant a life sentence.

Although prisoners were given a minimum length of time, completing it did not automatically result in release. 

They could remain in prison indefinitely until the Parole Board was satisfied that it was safe for them to return to the community. This process includes a review at least once every two years.

Leroy’s sister Nathalie (pictured) has said the UK’s justice system has ‘locked [her brother] up and just thrown away the key’

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The system was abolished for new cases in 2012, but not retrospectively, leaving thousands of prisoners subject to sentences which could continue long after their minimum tariffs had expired – as with Leroy.

‘Even though he’s coming home. He’s not coming home, really, is he? Because he’s still in the system, you know,’ Nathalie said. 

‘He did commit petty theft, but that’s not worthy of 20 years behind bars. 

‘He stole from cars, like smashing windows, but nothing like violent. He hasn’t got one violent bone in his body.

‘He’s been cheeky with officers in prison but his behaviour has been good. He hasn’t had any fights.’ 

Leroy’s release is prefaced with a series of conditions, including abiding by a curfew, being monitored with a GPS tag and being tested for drugs. 

His case has gained renewed attention because of the wider political debate over the future of IPP prisoners and the Government’s controversial early prison release scheme.

The Government has been hit by backlash over the prospect of some serious offenders being released before the end of their sentences, including the killers of PC Harper.

Leroy is pictured with his sister Nathalie as children

But Leroy’s family have condemned the timing of the scheme, with the aim to combat prison overcrowding, which plans to release prisoners early while their loved one has remained behind bars for decades. 

Notably, ministers are finding extra cell spaces by releasing inmates serving IPPs. This move has been criticised over the argument many IPP prisoners have been assessed as too dangerous to release.

‘They’re releasing people early now,’ Nathalie said. ‘And yes, my brother should have been one of the first ones, I think, to be released.’

She believes Leroy could have been released years ago.

‘He’s fit for release. He was fit for release a long time ago, so I don’t understand why they’ve kept him in so long,’ Nathalie said.

‘It make me feel very angry because for 20 whole years, he’s been locked up in jail when he should have been out a very long time ago for stealing a mobile phone.’

The UN ruling has piled fresh pressure on the Government and provided a major boost to the families’ long-running fight for justice.

In a damning opinion, the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention concluded the prisoners had been detained arbitrarily and urged Britain to take immediate steps to remedy their situation.

For Nathalie, the finding was a watershed moment, publicly validating what her family had insisted for years.

Asked about the UN’s conclusion, she recalled her reaction: ‘Oh, terrible!’

The ruling, she said, finally put an international stamp on concerns the family had been voicing for years.

‘You know, and it made us feel like we are like fighting a losing battle because they’re always gonna win, isn’t it? What can we do?

‘But we knew it was wrong anyway, but what could we do? I’m glad that it is finally out in the public and they’ve admitted that it is wrong.’

The issue is no longer confined to individual cases. The Government has now committed itself to ending the use of IPP sentences and addressing their continuing consequences.

Campaigners have welcomed the announcement, although they have stressed that legislation alone will not undo the damage caused by years spent in prison or on indefinite licences. 

More than 2,000 people remain affected by the legacy of the system, including prisoners still in custody and those released but subject to IPP licences – strict probation rules.

For Leroy, the immediate consequence of the developments is that he will finally be able to leave prison after two decades.

Nathalie said her mother was desperate to have her son home after years of being separated from him.

‘My mum is fine, but she just can’t wait to have him home,’ she said.

‘Obviously, it’s been horrendous, you know, not being able to like see her then every day. It’s been terrible for her.’

Leroy is set to move into a hostel for former prisoners next month, where he could remain for up to two years while he adjusts to life outside prison.

‘He haven’t stepped foot outside for 20 years, so I can imagine like he’s feeling a bit overwhelmed himself,’ Nathalie said. 

She said the family would simply be there for him and take things slowly. ‘Just go with the flow and just see what happens,’ she said.

The question now facing the Government is what happens to prisoners like Leroy who have already spent years beyond their minimum tariffs.

Mr Burnham has said that people who have served their time should be considered for release rather than remaining in prison simply because of the legacy of an abolished sentencing system. 

He has pledged to bring forward legislation to end the injustice of IPPs before the end of Parliament.

For Leroy’s family, however, the political debate is secondary to the fact that after 20 years, he is finally coming home.

Reflecting on what she believes her brother would have done should he not be behind bars, Nathalie said: ‘He would have settled down with children, and maybe have set up his own business. 

‘His life has really been ruined. It’s been stolen away.’ 

After years of uncertainty, his family finally know that the prison sentence is coming to an end.

Lord Chancellor and Justice Secretary Alex Norris said: ‘There are individuals who have served many years beyond their original tariff and we need to look carefully at how they can progress safely through the system. 

‘We are already increasing the frequency of Parole Board reviews and looking at what additional support is needed to help suitable prisoners prepare for release.

‘We’re going to take a cross-party approach to this issue, these are complex cases, involving important public protection and victim considerations.’

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