Last of Sophie Lancaster's killers to be freed from prison nearly 20 years after teen beaten to death

The last of Sophie Lancaster's killers is set to be freed from prison after a parole board found he had 'addressed his use of violence'. Sophie, 20, was savagely kicked and stamped upon as she attempted to shield her boyfriend Robert Maltby from a mob of drunk youths. The pair were targeted for their appearance in Stubbylee Park in Bacup, Lancashire during the early hours of August 11, 2007, with the gang going on to brag about leaving "two moshers nearly dead". The term 'mosher' was popular at the time to describe someone who is into hard rock or heavy metal. A fortnight later on August 24, Sophie's mother Sylvia was forced to make the devastating choice to switch off her life support after medics confirmed the young woman had no prospect of recovery. Sophie died 20 minutes later, while Mr Maltby survived the attack. Ryan Herbert, of Bacup, was handed a life sentence in 2008 alongside Brendan Harris for killing Sophie in the 'sustained and vicious attack'. Herbert, who was 16 at the time, was freed in 2022 and now the Parole Board has determined that Harris can likewise be released, reports Lancs Live . Harris informed the Parole Board panel that he had been drinking alcohol prior to the attack, and he acknowledged that he delivered the initial blow to the male victim. He also acknowledged that he had been routinely violent. The Parole Board's risk assessment said: "Having considered the index offences, relevant patterns of previous behaviour and the other evidence before it, the panel listed as risk factors those influences which made it more likely that Mr Harris would reoffend. At the time of his offending, these risk factors had included his way of life and choice of friends. Mr Harris had misused alcohol and drugs, and he had struggled to manage extreme emotions. "The panel noted that he acted without thinking about the consequences and demonstrated poor problem-solving skills. Evidence was presented at the hearing regarding Mr Harris' progress and custodial conduct during this sentence. The panel noted that Mr Harris had spent some time on his sentence in a secure Mental Health Hospital and had attacked and injured a nurse. " He was sentenced as a result of this for an offence on GBH in 2013. He returned to the prison estate in 2014 and went on to complete an accredited programme to address his use of violence. At the time of the panel's review, Mr Harris was engaging with a specialist regime designed to help people recognise and deal with a wide range of problems. "The panel was told that Mr Harris' behaviour in the prison had been good. The panel was told that Mr Harris had been motivated to do well and address his risk factors. All the witnesses at the oral hearing supported Mr Harris' release." The Parole Board has approved Harris' release on licence, subject to conditions that include staying at a designated address and to be "of good behaviour". In addition, he must comply with an enhanced supervision programme, encompassing drug testing, a specified curfew, a designated signing-in time, and alcohol monitoring.