‘Justice system is letting us down’: Man who violently shook baby set for early release
Every time her son has a seizure, Ellie (not her real name) is forced to recall the man who shook her tiny baby so violently he was left with life-changing injuries.
Her little boy was born healthy but when he was attacked, just weeks old, his life completely changed.
His mobility, vision, and ability to eat have all been seriously affected. Daily seizures are now normal. The injuries, she said, are a life sentence for her son.
That’s why it was so painful for Ellie to hear that the man who attacked her child is set to be released early from jail as part of a measure to free up space in overcrowded jails.
The man who attacked Ellie’s child is set to be released early
“Just walk a day in my shoes, and then tell me that your policy applies to us,” said Ellie, through tears, as she discussed the government’s decision to release people from prison early, in an effort to free up space in overcrowded jails.
“We’re completely heartbroken,” she said. “I feel like we fought for justice. And now the justice system is letting us down, letting my little boy down.”
The measure allows eligible offenders to be released after serving 40% of their sentence. Previously people would have been released after serving 50%.
On Tuesday, the next round of people will be released. It is only for those serving standard determinate sentences, the most common type of custodial term. There are certain exclusions in places – such as for sexual offences.
But it’s a decision that’s worrying victims of crime who have told Sky News they fear there are gaps and loopholes in the early release legislation which have not been properly accounted for.
Elizabeth Hudson’s ex-husband held a knife to her throat
Elizabeth Hudson is a victim of domestic abuse. Her ex-husband assaulted her and held a knife to her throat. While on bail he attacked another woman and was sentenced to just over six years.
Prisoners convicted of domestic abuse offences, such as coercive control, stalking and harassment, are exempt from this policy.
But her ex was charged with assault occasioning actual bodily harm and threats to kill. They are not crimes specific to domestic abuse. So he’s eligible.
Elizabeth has written to Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood calling for change and has shared the letter with Sky News.
“Despite government assurances, domestic abuse survivors are being let down,” she wrote.
“Your department and other ministers have reassured the public that domestic abusers would not be allowed out early-this is clearly not the case.”
Ms Hudson’s letter to the justice secretary
Finding out her ex was set to be released early was like “being punched in the stomach”, said Elizabeth.
“After years and years of trauma, I worked so hard to get to a stronger place,” she said. “And this has just come as a bolt from the blue and kind of pushed me right back to where I don’t want to be.”
The victims’ commissioner, Baroness Newlove, has warned of fears for further victims because of the way that the policy is calculated. “I think there are gaps,” she said.
“Nothing’s 100% risk-free. Myself and the domestic abuse commissioner are concerned about the level of violence that, hidden under assault charges, could escalate once again. Hopefully nobody else will get hurt.”
Victims’ commissioner Baroness Newlove
In a statement, a Ministry of Justice spokesperson said the new government “inherited a prison system on the point of collapse” and “has been forced to introduce an early release programme to stop a crisis that would have overwhelmed the criminal justice system”.
They added: “The Lord Chancellor announced in July that she was scrapping the previous government’s early release scheme, replacing it with a system which excludes several domestic abuse-related offences.”
Jeffrey Epstein led two different lives – sex offender and celebrity networker – and he did that in the UK as well as the US.
The newly released Epstein documents reveal, in particular, how the paedophile financier ascended into the highest levels of British society.
This photo of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor sprawled across the lap of several women, whose identities have been protected, speaks to his close relationship with Epstein’s former girlfriend Ghislaine Maxwell, who was jailed for child sex trafficking and other offences in connection with Epstein. But the furnishings are even more revealing.
Epstein files – latest updates
Andrew Mountbatten Windsor pictured with Ghislaine Maxwell. Note: inclusion in Epstein files does not infer wrongdoing
Sky News matched the fireplace in this photo with the one in Sandringham, the estate where the royals tend to spend Christmas – (Andrew is not invited this year).
Andrew has vigorously denied any accusations against him.
Prince Charles, now King Charles III, at Sandringham with Prince Edward. Pic: PA
Also included in the latest release are Epstein’s flight records. They provide some useful corroborating evidence.
A flight log from the Epstein files
On 9 March 2001, his plane landed at “EGGW” – Luton Airport – with JE, GM and VR on board – Jeffrey Epstein, Ghislaine Maxwell and Virginia Roberts, better known by her married name of Virginia Giuffre and perhaps Epstein’s most famous accuser.
The next day is when this photo was alleged to have been taken, in London, of Giuffre and Andrew.
Prince Andrew, Virginia Roberts, aged 17, and Ghislaine Maxwell at Ghislaine Maxwell’s townhouse in London, in March 2001
Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell hunting, date unknown. Pic: US DoJ
Other photos show Maxwell on the steps of Downing Street – and power was as much a draw as celebrity.
Ghislaine Maxwell outside 10 Downing Street, date unknown. Pic: US DoJ
On 15 May 2002, the flight records show Epstein again arriving at Luton.
A flight log from the Epstein files
The next day is when he met Tony Blair, prime minister at the time. This was before Epstein’s first arrest and there is no suggestion of wrongdoing.
Read more:
New photos of Jeffrey Epstein’s circle released
Ghislaine Maxwell sex trafficking case material to be released
The meeting was arranged by Peter Mandelson, who lost his job as ambassador to the US because of his Epstein connections, and who features prominently in the files.
Peter Mandelson and Jeffrey Epstein. Pic: US DoJ
The UK was a draw for Epstein’s wider circle too – Maxwell here is pictured touring the Churchill War Rooms with Bill Clinton and Kevin Spacey. Neither are accused of wrongdoing or knowledge of Epstein’s crimes.
(L-R) Ghislaine Maxwell, Kevin Spacey and Bill Clinton, with three other men. Pic: US DoJ
And the other grim life that Epstein led, of sex trafficking, also had British links.
A page from the Epstein files
Another document released in the files, from 2019, shows witness testimony from Maxwell’s trial. In it, a victim is mentioned who is “17 years old” and who grew up “in England”. She would later be taken to Epstein’s private Caribbean island.
Police have announced a £20,000 reward in the hunt for the killers of a man in north London in March.
Mahad Abdi Mohamed, 27, died after being shot in the head in Waverley Road, Tottenham at 8.45pm on 20 March, the Metropolitan Police said.
The Met, which announced the reward from the independent charity Crimestoppers, said officers believed the shooting was a case of mistaken identity.
Police now want to speak to two people in connection with the incident.
DCI Rebecca Woodsford, who is leading the investigation, said: “There is someone out there who knows what happened that night, and we are urging those individuals to find it in their heart to come forward. It could be exactly what we need to locate those responsible.”
Images of the two people police would like to speak to. Pics: Metropolitan Police
A targeted attack
Police believe the suspects, who got out of a stolen Mitsubishi Outlander, which was later recovered burned out, were taking part in a targeted attack.
On the night of the murder, Mahad had spent the early evening with his friend at their home.
They were breaking their fast outside when the Mitsubishi Outlander approached and the suspects opened fire, striking Mahad and his friend multiple times.
Mahad’s 26-year-old friend received treatment for a gunshot wound to his leg.
The force suspects another stolen vehicle, a blue Jaguar, was used to transport the suspects to and from the Mitsubishi.
Read more from Sky News:
Driver guilty of murder in Christmas Day rampage
Ukraine “hits Russian tanker in Mediterranean Sea for first time”
The stolen cars from the night. Pics: Metropolitan Police
Police arrested four adult men in March and April on suspicion of murder, who were subsequently bailed.
The investigation so far has led officers to believe whoever killed Mahad set out to hurt someone else in a pre-planned, targeted attack.
Appealing to the public for information, Mahad’s youngest sister said: “To stay silent is to be complicit. To stay silent is to let a grieving mother suffer in confusion. To stay silent is to let a little boy grow up not knowing what happened to his father.”
Pic: Metropolitan Police
The reward, which is offered for information that leads to the identification, arrest and prosecution of those responsible, is available for three months and is due to expire on 20 March 2026.
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