My son was jailed indefinitely for stealing a mobile - we've waited 21 years to see him released
Leroy Douglas, a man sentenced to an indeterminate prison term in 2005 for a minor theft, is finally set for release after 21 years. His case highlights the controversial nature of Imprisonment for Public Protection (IPP) sentences, which were scrapped in 2012 but left thousands in legal limbo.
Why it matters
The story underscores the human cost of indefinite sentencing policies and the ongoing struggle for justice reform regarding legacy prisoners.
Image source, Leroy Douglas Image caption, Leroy Douglas was given an intermediate sentence in 2005 and has been in prison ever since
"It's like your son being killed - he's here but he's not."
Leroy Douglas was just 24 when he was jailed in 2005 for stealing a mobile phone and handed a minimum prison term of two-and-a-half years.
More than 20 years later, he is still locked up.
Leroy, who had a drug addiction, had a string of convictions for offences including petty crimes and shoplifting, before being sentenced for robbery and being given an indeterminate sentence of Imprisonment for Public Protection , external (IPP).
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