![\"Adil](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/496.jpg\")
Adil Iqbal in 2023. Photograph: Greater Manchester police\/PA<\/p>\nWhen Calvin Buckley, whose pregnant partner was killed by a dangerous driver in 2023, secured a tougher sentence for the man who took her life, he felt some justice had been served. Now, under plans to release prisoners early to ease overcrowding, Adil Iqbal, who filmed himself speeding at 123mph before he crashed into 38-year-old Frankie Jules-Hough, may serve less time in prison than he would have under his original sentence.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe could actually serve less time than he originally was going to before we appealed,\u201d Buckley said. \u201cWe\u2019ve fought for a tougher sentence. What is the point of having an actual sentence if the government can just reduce that?\u201d<\/p>\n
Victims and bereaved family members who fear perpetrators could be released early under government plans to free up prison space say they are deeply concerned at the prospect of dangerous offenders walking the streets.<\/p>\n
Gemma Chappell, the great-aunt of Maya Chappell, who was shaken to death aged two by her mother\u2019s boyfriend in 2022, said the early release scheme was further traumatising bereaved families.<\/p>\n
Maya\u2019s mother, Dana Carr, was sentenced to nine years in prison after being found guilty of child cruelty by neglect and allowing her child\u2019s death, but Chappell has been told she is set to be released early under the scheme.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think it\u2019s terrible. I think victims are not being heard. We should be allowed to grieve, we should be allowed to have our trauma,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
Chappell said it was \u201cridiculous\u201d that Carr had made no admission of guilt and applied to have her sentence reduced, which was denied, but was now set to be released early anyway due to overcrowding.<\/p>\n
She said she welcomed Andy Burnham\u2019s intervention to exempt rapists, serious child sexual abuse offenders and those convicted of grooming from the early release plans but said it didn\u2019t go far enough.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s still victims and families out there who remain deeply concerned about these dangerous offenders getting out early, and we\u2019re one of them. Justice should always be about public safety and the victim\u2019s voice first,\u201d she told BBC Radio 4\u2019s Today programme.<\/p>\n
A former prison officer, Chappell said she wanted the government to invest more money in prison buildings instead. \u201cLetting serious offenders out on to the street is not the answer,\u201d she said. \u201cWe need some clarity on what\u2019s going to happen if these offenders do get out because this affects our lifetime, not just the next couple of months.\u201d<\/p>\n
Adil Iqbal in 2023. Photograph: Greater Manchester police\/PA<\/p>\n
Buckley said he was devastated to find driving offenders would not be exempted from the plans. \u201cTo kill somebody and to have your [prison] sentence reduced is just not right. Our justice has been taken away,\u201d he told BBC Breakfast.<\/p>\n
\u201cI understand there is a crisis, I agree that it needs to be addressed, but not at the expense of victims. For me it is another example of road victims not being treated the same as other offences.\u201d<\/p>\n
Iqbal was originally sentenced to 12 years for killing Jules-Hough and her unborn child, Neeve. This was increased to 15 years by the court of appeal under the unduly lenient sentence scheme.<\/p>\n
Buckley said he was told Iqbal would serve a minimum of two-thirds of his original 12-year sentence \u2013 eight years \u2013 in prison. But under the new plans he could be eligible for release after half of his 15-year sentence, or seven and a half years.<\/p>\n
The government has also been criticised for its decision not to exempt domestic abuse perpetrators from the early release scheme.<\/p>\n
Alice Russell-Harris, the public affairs lead at Refuge, said the organisation was \u201cdeeply alarmed\u201d and that the move would \u201cput many domestic abuse survivors at risk\u201d.<\/p>\n
She said releasing domestic abusers early would \u201cheighten survivors\u2019 fears for their safety\u201d and the charity was aware that perpetrators \u201cfrequently breach conditions to continue their campaign of abuse\u201d.<\/p>\n
Jessie Cole (left) and Albert Bowers. Photograph: Thames Valley police\/PA<\/p>\n