The mother of Albert Bowers has criticised the decision to prevent his early release, saying he is no longer a danger and describing PC Andrew Harper’s death as a tragic accident. Bowers was one of two teenagers convicted of manslaughter after Harper was dragged behind a getaway car while attempting to stop a quad-bike theft in Berkshire in 2019.

Bowers and Jessie Cole, both now 24, were initially due to leave prison after serving half of their 13-year sentences, but the release was blocked following public opposition and a petition signed by more than one million people. The article reports that Bowers will remain imprisoned until around March 2029, while Harper’s family say the campaign has caused renewed trauma.