Two men found guilty of killing police officer Andrew Harper made sick jokes about his widow Lissie while being escorted from court and after being jailed, a former prison officer has revealed.
Behaviour during trial
Jessie Cole and Albert Bowers, sentenced for manslaughter, reportedly showed no respect for their actions. The guard told The Sun they were “the last who should be considered for early release”.
“I saw their behaviour first-hand. They thought the whole thing was a joke and had no respect for PC Harper or his widow,” the guard said. “One day they were being taken to the Bailey, they were making derogatory comments about Lissie and a custody officer told them to show some respect — and they laughed in his face.”
Disruptive prisoners
The guard described the pair as some of the most disruptive prisoners he had seen. “There were lots of gangsters in there but they were no use without weapons and Cole and Bowers knew how to fight. Cole beat a few lads up in the showers — they’d say they’d fallen over. Bowers was less violent but had a menacing aura and was from a serious family.”
He added: “We were all very relieved when they got moved. Anyone who saw them at trial or in jail would think it’s utterly wrong they could get early release.”
PC Harper's death
PC Harper, 28, died in August 2019 in Sulhamstead, Berkshire, after becoming entangled in a strap connected to a car while attending a quad bike theft. Cole and Bowers, both 17 at the time, were sentenced to 13 years in custody for manslaughter in 2020.
