The mother of a teenage boy who was killed in a machete attack faces fresh agony today after being told one of his killers will be released just six months into his jail term due to prison overcrowding.
Gordon Gault, 14, died in hospital six days after he was attacked with a blade during an ongoing feud in Elswick, Newcastle, in November 2022.
After a trial at Newcastle Crown Court Carlos Neto, 18, and Lawson Natty, also 18, were convicted of manslaughter and unlawful wounding.
Neto, from Manchester, was jailed for nine years and two months, while Natty, from Newcastle, was handed two years and eight months at their sentence hearings in March.
But Gordon’s mum Dionne Barrett was left devastated when she received a letter confirming Natty’s early release at the weekend.
Amid prison overcrowding the Conservatives began early releases prior to the election, with the new Labour government confirming this would continue amid a prisons crisis.
A Ministry of Justice spokesperson told MailOnline that any violent offender with a sentence under four years is eligible for early release under the scheme.
Although those convicted of sex offences and domestic abuse are exempt, other violent offenders, including killers convicted of manslaughter, can be released.
Ms Barrett said: ‘We are absolutely devastated. They rang me on Friday and said he was getting out because of the overcrowding and then they put it in writing to me.
‘Fair enough letting petty criminals out for shoplifting but he has been done for manslaughter and he has only done a few months.
‘I just cannot get my head around it. This is the same week those girls were murdered in Southport and he is getting out. What kind of example is that?’
She added: ‘We have had not justice whatsoever for Gordon.’
The trial heard that a second youth, who couldn’t be named, was slashed during the same violent confrontation but survived.
The letter said: ‘Due to significant issues within the prison population, the Lord Chancellor has announced plans to introduce a change to the law which will allow some prisoners serving determined sentence to be released on license early.
‘Prisoners who meet the criteria will be released after serving 40 per cent of their sentence in custody rather than the 50 per cent they serve now.
‘These changes are due to happen from September so no prisoner will be released under the scheme prior to that time.
‘We have been advised that Lawson Natty meets the criteria for this scheme so I’m writing to inform you that the release will be brought forward.
‘The revised release date will be in the week beginning September 9, 2024.’
The letter said Natty will be managed by the Probation Service and subject to licence conditions.
He will be required to comply with all conditions and failure to do so could result in him being sent back to prison.
The letter ended by saying: ‘I appreciate that this news will be unwelcome.’
Neto is not eligible for early release after being sentenced to more than nine years in jail.
The Ministry for Justice has been contacted for further comment.