PC Harper killers' potential early release is an 'insult', says his mother
BBC News 2026-07-22 10:17:54
Context: Police officer Andrew Harper was killed in August 2019 while responding to a quad bike theft in Sulhamstead, Berkshire. His killers, Jessie Cole and Albert Bowers, who were 17 at the time, received 13-year sentences for manslaughter, while the driver, Henry Long, received a 16-year sentence. The mother of PC Harper has expressed outrage that Cole and Bowers may be eligible for early release from prison under a new government scheme.
Key Facts
- PC Andrew Harper, 28, sustained fatal injuries while responding to a quad bike theft in Sulhamstead, Berkshire, in August 2019, after getting caught in a strap attached to the back of a car and dragged down a country road.
- Jessie Cole and Albert Bowers, who were passengers in the car and both 17 at the time, were handed 13-year sentences in custody for manslaughter after a trial at the Old Bailey in 2020.
- Under the new Sentencing Act, due to come into force in September, some 6,000 criminals are set to be released under the early prison release scheme, which may include Cole and Bowers, who could be eligible for release halfway through their sentences.
- PC Harper's mother, Debbie Adlam, received a letter from the Ministry of Justice confirming that her son's killers might be eligible for early release, which she described as "a slap in the face and an insult".
- The Police Federation of England & Wales has condemned the early release policy as "disgusting", with Deputy national chairman Brian Booth stating that police officers will be "utterly sickened" at the prospect of Cole and Bowers being back on the streets soon.