The family of a pregnant woman who was beaten and strangled by her partner say they are 'disgusted' after he was released from prison early.
Leah Morton, 21, suffered repeated concussions and bruises during a relationship with Joseph Hartley in Bridlington from October 2025 until his arrest in March. He continued to attack her after she became pregnant, at one point covering her mouth and attempting to strangle her.
Jailed for 18 months
Hartley was jailed for 18 months in April after pleading guilty to controlling and coercive behaviour, intentional strangulation, assault occasioning actual bodily harm and assault by beating at Grimsby Crown Court.
But just five months later he was released yesterday as part of the government's early release scheme, which her family branded 'disgusting'.
Victim's account
Leah told Metro: 'He would beat me until I was physically on the floor and he couldn't manage anymore. Even though I was pregnant he would kick my stomach.'
The 21-year-old had to quit her job and drop out of university following the abuse. She said she felt relief only when he was first arrested and jailed, but after being told he was eligible for early release she spent the rest of his sentence 'preparing for him to get out'.
'I am worried he will come back and get me,' Leah said. 'Mentally, it is very, very draining.'
Family's frustration
Her father Adam spent months fighting for Leah to receive council accommodation after she was left homeless, and feels frustrated knowing Hartley will be offered support by probation services.
He said: 'We had to rebuild her life from scratch. We are £3,500 down getting her a new flat as she was living out of hotels, and her ex destroyed most of her belongings. But he'll have support when he gets out of prison, which is something we haven't had.'
Reaction to the scheme
Some 700 prisoners left prison today as part of the early release scheme, with many appearing jubilant as they walked out onto the streets, with one heard shouting 'I'm free, freebie!'. Another prisoner told reporters: 'Justice system, what justice system? Thank you Andy Burnham.'
The Conservative Party has warned the government is putting the public at risk and called the release an 'insult to victims'.
A Ministry of Justice spokesperson said: 'Within the first weeks of coming into office, we took action to keep more of the most dangerous criminals locked up, meaning that anyone in prison for rape, child sex abuse offences and manslaughter will now stay behind bars. We wanted to go further but, because of the prison crisis we inherited, doing so would risk the prison system collapsing – leaving police unable to arrest domestic abusers and putting victims in danger. Anyone who is released faces the toughest-ever controls on their movements, including world-first restriction zones and the largest expansion of electronic tagging, with victims having a say in their preparators' licence conditions.'
