Previous victim condemns early release after Sabat murdered former partner
A man convicted of murder after stabbing his former partner to death just days after being released early from prison under Labour's scheme has drawn condemnation from one of his previous victims. Robert Sabat, 60, had served only approximately 150 days of a one-year sentence for harassment and knife offences before his release from HMP Wandsworth. His actions have renewed scrutiny on the Government's early release scheme, which allows prisoners to leave after serving 40 per cent of their fixed-term sentences rather than 50 per cent, in an effort to relieve pressure on overcrowded prisons.
Sabat murdered mother-of-two Dickiesha Nurse, moving into her home immediately after release and stabbing her when she asked him to leave. The Old Bailey heard that Sabat's previous offence involved him brandishing two knives at another former partner's home, smashing a plant pot and shouting through the door despite her pleas, with police needing to use pepper spray to restrain him. He was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 17 years. His previous victim has accused the Government of failing to protect women, stating that the seriousness of his violent behaviour was not adequately assessed, and expressed concern that such early release policies put the public at risk.
- Man released early stabbed ex-partner to death days after release.
- Served just 40 per cent of sentence before release under Labour scheme.
- Previous victim criticizes early release policy for failing to protect women.
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The UK Government operates an early release scheme for prisoners serving fixed-term sentences, allowing them to leave prison after serving 40 per cent of their sentence instead of the standard 50 per cent. The scheme aims to relieve pressure on overcrowded prisons.
Robert Sabat was released early under this scheme after serving roughly 150 days of a one-year sentence for harassment and knife offences. Days after his release, he murdered mother-of-two Dickiesha Nurse by stabbing her at her home after she asked him to leave.
Sabat's previous offence involved him brandishing two knives at a former partner's home, smashing a plant pot and shouting through the door despite her pleas, requiring police to use pepper spray to restrain him. The case has raised questions about whether prisoners with records of violent behaviour towards former partners are adequately assessed before early release under the scheme.
Both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
The early release scheme addresses a critical crisis in prison capacity that undermines the entire criminal justice system. Overcrowded prisons create dangerous conditions, prevent rehabilitation programmes, and paradoxically reduce public safety by limiting monitoring and treatment. Whilst this case is tragic, individual failures in risk assessment do not necessarily invalidate a policy designed to manage an unsustainable system; the scheme's aggregate effect on both prison operations and broader reoffending rates must be weighed against the harms of continued overcrowding.
The case against
This case demonstrates how prioritising prison capacity over careful risk assessment endangers vulnerable people. Sabat's documented history of violent intimidation toward former partners showed a clear pattern of domestic violence, yet he was released after only 150 days. A rigid 40 per cent threshold removes discretion for serious cases where evidence of ongoing danger is plain; the Government's duty to protect citizens, especially women from intimate partner violence, must take precedence over administrative convenience in managing prison populations.
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Originally published by Daily Mail as “Why was he ever freed? Early release murderer’s previous victim condemns Labour ‘soft justice’ scheme after thug stabbed ex to death days after he was let out”.