Stephen Harold, 54, was released early under Sir Keir Starmer's scheme to ease prison overcrowding, despite telling authorities he was not ready to leave. Within weeks, he burgled a home while the occupant slept and admitted to a series of further break-ins.
Prolific offender released against his wishes
Harold had served less than half of his sentence when he was freed under the early release policy. Lawyers told Liverpool Crown Court that he had asked not to be released because he feared he would reoffend. His barrister, John Weate, said: "He asked not to be released because he was fearful and knew that he wasn't ready. He knew the likelihood would be that, in a very short space of time, he would find himself back in this situation."
Harold has a criminal record stretching back to the 1980s, with 25 previous convictions for 66 offences, including 32 for burglary.
Burglary within 20 days
After being released, Harold broke into a home in Wallasey, Wirral, at about 2.45am. A woman woke to find her front door open despite locking it the night before. He stole a £700 Prada coat, a £250 handbag, an £800 laptop and a pair of Samsung ear pods. A neighbour's Ring doorbell camera captured him on a bike approaching the property.
When questioned by police, Harold reportedly ranted about being "thrown out of prison early with no support" and said he offended because he had not been able to get his "script". He admitted two counts of burglary and asked for nine further burglary and attempted burglary offences to be taken into consideration. In April 2025, Liverpool Crown Court jailed him for four years and eight months.
Policy paused after review
Harold was one of more than 38,000 prisoners whose sentences were shortened between September 2024 and June 2025 under the early release policy. Last week, Prime Minister Andy Burnham ordered the Ministry of Justice to pause the next stage of the scheme pending a review. Burnham said: "Keeping the public safe will always be my top priority. I am working closely with the new Justice Secretary and have instructed my team to put a pause on the changes that were due to start in September. No prisoners will be let out under this policy until we have conducted an urgent review and done everything we can to minimise risk to the public. Where changes are needed, we will not hesitate to make them."
