Grooming gang survivor urges Labour to block early release of grooming perpetrators: 'Our lives are in danger!'

The survivor of a Rotherham grooming gang has urged the Labour Government to "get behind" the victims and stop the early release of perpetrators from prison.

Speaking to GB News, Sarah Wilson warned that the lives of "every single survivor up and down the country is in danger" if such criminals are released.

Having been sent a letter notifying her of her perpetrator's early release in September, Ms Wilson told GB News: "We're telling MPs today to get behind us and not let this go forward, because it's not just my life that's in danger.

"Every single survivor up and down our country is in danger."

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Ms Wilson stressed that the criminals of grooming gang crimes "already get a lesser sentence for good behaviour", on top of being eligible for early release.

She said: "It's absolutely crazy. They already get a lesser sentence anyway for good behaviour. The difference is, there's no children in prison. They can't offend against children because in they're in prison.

"Once they are out, that's not going to stop them. It didn't stop them decades ago, and it won't stop them now.

"So we need to protect future victims, future survivors, and make sure that this doesn't happen because it's going to threaten people from coming forward and coming to the police to get convictions, especially if this new law comes into place."

Recalling previous promises from the Government, Ms Wilson made clear that victims were assured that the early release schemes would "not include" grooming gang perpetrators.

She said: "Survivors were told that it wouldn't affect child abusers, groomers, and that they wouldn't fall under this new category, but unfortunately, they do, and it's not fair.

"We've put our lives on the line to bring justice, to bring these men to justice, and we're having it chucked straight back in our faces."

Appearing alongside Ms Wilson, Child Sexual Abuse Solicitor Amy Clowrey told GB News that many of her clients are now "really scared" for their own safety, should their perpetrators be released early.

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Ms Clowrey said: "All of my clients are really scared for their own well-being and that of their families.

"Their mental health has deteriorated, everybody that I've spoken to cannot believe that this sentence will release violent perpetrators such as sexual abuse offenders and and the likes.

"So we're just asking everybody that's watching this program to stand behind Sarah and the other survivors and to write to their MPs if possible."

Ms Clowrey urged MPs to support amendments to the legislation to block serious criminals being included in early release.

She said: "I'm hoping that the collective voice of survivors will mean that MPs understand the implications of the decisions that have been made in relation to this act, and essentially get behind survivors and agree to make amendments to the act, so that people like Sarah and Fiona and others are all protected."

Shadow Justice Secretary Nick Timothy said Labour had promised early release would not apply to the "most serious, heinous crimes" but had now "broken their word".

A Ministry of Justice spokesman said: "This Government is fixing the prison crisis it inherited – building 14,000 more prison places and reforming sentencing so we can always lock up dangerous criminals.

"Without this decisive action, prisons will run out of space entirely as early as November and we will be unable to lock up serious offenders at all."

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