A review is under way into the early release of a prisoner who killed a man hours after walking free from jail, the government has said. Liam Matthews, 26, was armed with a chisel when he joined two others tohunt down and kill Lewis Bell, 26, over a drug den feud in Stockton in the early hours of 19 September. He had been released from prison the previous morning as part of a scheme to ease pressure on crowded prisons, having been jailed three and a half months earlier for his part in a group attack on another man. The Ministry of Justice said its thoughts remained with Mr Bell's family who would be informed of the review's findings. At the sentencing hearing of Mr Bell's killers on Thursday, prosecutor Peter Makepeace KC told Teesside Crown Court that Matthews, of no fixed abode, had 25 previous convictions for 128 offences committed between 2015 and 2024. Mr Makepeace said the majority were for "relatively minor dishonesty offences", most usually shoplifting, and he had a "record typical of a life of acquisitive crime to fund drug use". In June 2024, Matthews was jailed for 22 months for violent disorder for an attack six months earlier on a man in Stockton. A court heard the victim had been armed with an air rifle outside a house on Bowesfield Lane when Matthews and four others, armed with weapons including an axe, went out to confront him. The man was knocked to the ground and kicked as he lay unconscious before Matthews approached from behind, stamped on him and went through his pockets, the court heard. Matthews was armed with a "long, thin, silver metal spike type" item which was "not dissimilar" to the chisel he used in the attack on Mr Bell, Mr Makepeace said. He was released from jail on 18 September, eight days after the government'searly release prison scheme came into force, with Mr Bell being killed hours later. A Ministry of Justice spokesperson said: "Our thoughts remain with the family and friends of Lewis Bell. "A review of what happened is under way and will be shared with his family." They said the Labour government elected in July 2024 introduced an emergency early release programme to "avert a crisis which would have led to the police being unable to arrest people nationwide". The spokesperson claimed the commission of serious offences by those released was "incredibly rare", with "less than 0.5% of offenders under statutory supervision convicted of one". They added the government "understands the devastating impact they have which is why they are all reviewed". Matthews was jailed for 15 years, with a further four years to be served on extended licence, after being found guilty of Mr Bell's manslaughter. Sean McLeod, 23, was jailed for life with a minimum term of 23 years for murder and Ashton White, 18, sentenced to 10 years youth detention for manslaughter. A fourth man, Macauley Wright, 26, who had been a close friend of Mr Bell's family, was jailed for two and a half years after he admitted assisting an offender by helping the killers escape in a taxi and dispose of evidence. Follow BBC Tees onX,Facebook,NextdoorandInstagram.
Release of inmate who killed hours later reviewed
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"Investigation Launched into Early Release of Inmate Who Committed Murder Hours Later"
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TruthLens AI Summary
A review is currently underway following the premature release of Liam Matthews, a 26-year-old inmate who committed murder just hours after being freed from prison. Matthews was released on September 18 as part of a government initiative aimed at reducing overcrowding in jails. The following morning, he was involved in a violent altercation that resulted in the death of Lewis Bell, also 26, during a drug-related feud in Stockton. Prosecutor Peter Makepeace KC highlighted Matthews' extensive criminal history, comprising 25 previous convictions for a total of 128 offenses, primarily minor offenses such as shoplifting, which he reportedly committed to support his drug dependency. This history included a violent incident from June 2024 that led to his incarceration for 22 months for violent disorder, showcasing a pattern of escalated criminal behavior leading to serious offenses.
The Ministry of Justice has expressed condolences to Mr. Bell's family and confirmed that findings from the review will be shared with them. The government emphasized that the emergency early release program, instituted by the Labour government in July 2024, was a necessary measure to prevent a crisis that could hinder police operations nationwide. Officials noted that serious offenses committed by released individuals are exceedingly rare, accounting for less than 0.5% of those under statutory supervision. Following the incident, Matthews was sentenced to 15 years in prison with an additional four years on extended license for Mr. Bell's manslaughter. Two other individuals involved in the murder, Sean McLeod and Ashton White, received significant prison sentences for their roles, while a fourth man, Macauley Wright, was sentenced for assisting in the crime. This case raises critical questions about the implications of early release policies and their impact on public safety.
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