Mother's fury after son's machete killer is set to be freed just months after being sentenced under Labour plans to release prisoners early
A grieving mother has hit out at Labour's early prisoner release scheme after being told one of her son's killers is to go free – just months after being sentenced.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer yesterday said the decision to release prisoners who have served 40 per cent of their sentence in order to ease overcrowding 'goes against the grain of everything I've ever done', referring to his former role as Chief Prosecutor.
In his Downing Street speech, Sir Keir added there was a 'framework to ensure that we don't release those who create the greatest risk'.
But Dionne Barrett – whose 14-year-old son was killed in a machete attack – said her child has had 'no justice' and that a 'dangerous criminal' would be back on the streets because of the release scheme.
Gordon Gault died after being stabbed during a feud on November 9, 2022 between rival gangs in Newcastle.
Dionne Barrett whose teenage son Gordon Gault died from knife wounds after being stabbed in 2022 in Elswick, Newcastle Upon Tyne
14-year-old Gordon Gault, who was fatally stabbed as part of a tit-for-tat violence between rival groups
Eighteen-year-old Lawson Natty, who supplied the machete that killed him, was sentenced to two years and eight months for manslaughter in March.
He had already spent eight-and-a-half months on remand and is to be released in just two weeks under Labour's scheme, meaning he will have served 14 months in total.
Ms Barrett told BBC Radio Newcastle she 'couldn't speak' after receiving the phonecall about Natty's release before getting confirmation in a letter.
'I was so shocked,' she said. 'I put the phone down, and had to call back because I couldn't make sense of it. I still can't. Gordon's had no justice whatsoever.
'It's giving the message out... take a knife, and you'll only do a couple months. I've had so much anger. It infuriates me.'
The Government's strategy has been put down to a shortage of prison places.
But Ms Barrett added: 'Fair enough, letting petty criminals out for shoplifting – but he [Natty] has been done for manslaughter and has only done a few months. I cannot get my head around it.'
The mother described the offender's early release as 'an absolute disgrace' in a social media post and added: 'Something is seriously wrong.'
Eighteen-year-old Lawson Natty, who supplied the machete that killed Gordon, was sentenced to two years and eight months for manslaughter in March
The letter she received from a Probation Service liaison officer reads: 'Due to significant issues within the prison population, the Lord Chancellor has announced plans to introduce a change to the law which will allow some prisoners serving a determined sentence to be released on licence early.
Prisoners who meet the criteria will be released after serving 40 per cent of their sentence in custody rather than the 50 per cent they serve now.
'These changes are due to happen from September, so no prisoner will be released under the scheme prior to that time.
'We have been advised that Lawson Natty meets the criteria for this scheme, so I'm writing to inform you that the release will be brought forward.'
Gordon died six days after being fatally injured in a fight between rival gang members near a park.
He was stabbed in the arm by a machete wielded by Carlos Neto, 18, who was jailed for nine years and two months for manslaughter. Natty was also armed, but did not use the machete, a jury at Newcastle Crown Court was told.
During their trial, Prosecutor Jonathan Sandiford KC said the pair 'immersed themselves in a gang culture which... celebrates acts of significant violence'.
Ms Barrett fears such a short period of time behind bars will not have corrected Natty's ways.
'He's a dangerous criminal,' she said. 'He's never had a chance to change or be rehabilitated. It's just a slap on the wrists.'
