IPP prisoner dreams of a 'normal life' after spending 18 years in prison for a 23-month sentence

A prisoner who served 18 years of a 23-month prison sentence has spoken of his desperation to return to a “normal life” as he attempts for the seventh time to be released from an indeterminate sentence.

Wayne Williams was imprisoned at the age of just 17 for trying to injure a police officer during a fight.

He was told he had to serve a minimum sentence of one year, 11 months and 20 days when he was sentenced to public protection imprisonment (IPP) in 2006.

But he remains in prison 18 years later after a series of failed parole attempts as he struggles with “fear, paranoia and loneliness” under the inhumane sentence, which has since been abolished.

Now 36, Mr Williams hopes he can finally win his freedom as he faces his seventh parole board review this summer after probation officers said they supported his release.

In letters from HMP Wymott, seen by The independenthe revealed the “hell” of his incarceration in Lancashire’s category C prison as he battled declining mental health.

Wayne, who grew up in a series of foster homes and secure units, said the IPP sentence was the hardest thing he had ever endured.

“I feel like for 18 or 19 years I've been waiting like I'm in a queue and waiting for the queue to go down, but it never does, I just goes around in circles in a revolving door,” he wrote. .

“I've been through hell over the last 10-12 years, where my mental health has slowly declined and my paranoia has exploded.

“I no longer feel safe and live my life day by day, without planning, without hope and in a constant state of fear, paranoia, loneliness with no end in sight.

“I feel like I'm screaming at the top of my voice and everyone is ignoring me and conspiring against me to commit suicide.”

IPP sentences – under which offenders were sentenced to a minimum prison term but not a maximum – were abolished in 2012 due to human rights concerns.

But the abolition of this policy did not affect those who were already convicted, leaving thousands of prisoners like Wayne to languish in prison for years beyond their original prison term.

He added: “All of my current mental health problems have become magnified and I feel that all of my ill health comes from my IPP prison sentence.

“All I want is to live some sort of normal life, have a relationship, start a family and live the rest of my life with some sort of normalcy.”

After the death of his grandmother, Wayne's only family member, he was supported by activist Shirley De Bono, who founded the group IPP Committee in Action.

Last year, she counseled him into going on a 20-day hunger strike as he lost all hope of ever being released.

“When he was really sick because he wasn't eating, I would hear the weakness in his voice and I would tell him please, please eat something,” Ms. De Bono said. The independent.

“He's been trapped in the system for so many years, when he comes out it will be so strange for him.”

She called on Labor to act urgently to help IPP prisoners if they win the election, after the misguided policy was introduced under the new Labor Party in 2005.

“They need to admit that they handed down this horrible, evil sentence in 2005 and they handed it down to the wrong people,” she said.

“They need to tell the public that they made a big mistake and are putting people in prison for years and years for minor crimes.

“I know they want to appear to be tough on crime, but they also need to be seen to be fair. There is no justice without fairness.

The independent has called for an immediate review of the sentences of almost 3,000 IPP inmates still languishing in prison – 708 of whom have served more than 10 years longer than their original sentence.

Nearly 90 IPP prisoners have committed suicide, as families and activists launch calls for a punishment exercise.

Recent cases highlighted by this publication include Thomas White, who set himself on fire last week after serving 12 years in prison for stealing a cell phone, and Yusuf Ali, who did not eat for 61 days after losing all hope of being released from his IPP sentence.

Although recent reforms passed under the Victims and Prisoners Bill will reduce the IPP license period from 10 to three years for community offenders, they will do little to help those who do not. were never released.

The Prison Service has been contacted for comment.

If you are experiencing feelings of distress or are struggling to cope, you can speak to The Samaritans, in confidence, on 116 123 (UK & ROI), email [email protected] or visit THE Samaritans website to find details of your nearest branch.

If you live in the United States and you or someone you know needs mental health help right now, call or text 988, or visit 988lifeline.org to access online chat from 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. This is a free, confidential helpline available to anyone 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

If you are in another country, you can go www.befrienders.org to find a helpline near you.