The mother of Sophie Lancaster, who was beaten to death by a gang in the summer of 2007, has said she is 'very disappointed' by the decision to free one of her killers from prison. Reacting to the decision, Sylvia Lancaster said that 'once again we have a justice system that fails to deliver justice' and that the original life sentence reflected the 'level of violence' her daughter was subjected to during a 'feral' attack.
Ryan Herbert was 16 years old when he was jailed for life in 2008 for murdering Sophie in a park in Lancashire. The Parole Board decided Herbert can now be released on licence, 15 years after he took part in the attack.
Sylvia said she could not understand the decision being made 'because they have done well in prison' when the Parole Board knew 'the reality of the level of violence' Sophie had been subjected to, Lancashire Live reports.
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Herbert admitted murdering 20-year-old Sophie, who died from her injuries after being viciously beaten as she cradled Robert Maltby’s head in her lap in 2007. He also pleaded guilty to assault causing grievous bodily harm with intent to Mr Maltby and was given a minimum term of 16 years and three months – later reduced to 15-and-a-half years on appeal.
In 2020, Herbert, of Bacup, Lancashire, had his tariff cut to 14-and-a-half years when a High Court judge concluded he had made 'exceptional progress' in jail. The Parole Board found he had made 'significant changes to his life which reflected his remorse, his insight and increased maturity.'
“After considering the circumstances of his offending and examining the evidence for the progress made while in custody, the panel was satisfied that Mr Herbert was suitable for release,” a document setting out the decision said.
Sylvia, who launched a foundation in Sophie's memory to stand against violence and prejudice, said in a statement: "I’m obviously very disappointed in the result of the parole hearing. Once again we have a justice system that fails to deliver justice.
"However much progress people make in prison, they have been given their sentence in recognition of the extent of their crime. The judge at the murder trial described the attack on Sophie as ‘feral’, with the attackers’ behaviour ‘savage and merciless’."
She continued: "Her injuries were so severe, the paramedics attending the scene could not facially distinguish if she were male or female. How can you bear knowing the reality of the level of violence my daughter was subjected to, and stack that up against reducing the minimum tariff because they have done well in prison?
"However they have progressed, the minimum justice for the family is them serving the sentence they were given. Her attackers may not have been given a life sentence, but I have."
Brendan Harris, who was found guilty of Miss Lancaster’s murder in 2008 and admitted the attack on Mr Maltby, was jailed for life with a minimum term of 18 years. He, Herbert and four other teenage boys 'savagely and mercilessly attacked' Mr Maltby in Stubbylee Park, Bacup, during the early hours of August 11 2007.
Gap-year student Miss Lancaster rushed to help her boyfriend as he lay unconscious and shouted at his attackers to leave him alone. Herbert and Harris then turned on her, subjecting her to a 'sustained and vicious attack' which involved her head being kicked and stamped on until she too lost consciousness.
Miss Lancaster never regained consciousness and died in hospital 14 days later. It appeared the couple were attacked because they looked and dressed differently and Herbert later told people there were 'two moshers nearly dead' in the park, according to court hearings.
At the time of his crimes Herbert had an 'anti-social lifestyle' and spent time with 'negative friends' who he had a 'misguided sense of loyalty' towards, drank and took drugs, the parole papers said. Herbert’s behaviour behind bars had 'initially been poor' but this changed once he moved into an adult prison and he had taken part in rehabilitation programmes.
After being moved into an open prison in November 2020, he “improved his education with studies to degree level” and had “fully engaged with resettlement activities” including spending time on temporary release from jail. He had a job and there was “positive feedback about his work”.
The document added: “No concerns about compliance had been identified and Mr Herbert had good working relationships with professional staff.”
Witnesses, including his probation officer, recommended he be released on licence. Herbert, who became eligible for release in February, will be subject to restrictions on his movements, where he lives and who he contacts.
