Stephen Harold, 54, was released under Keir Starmer’s early release scheme (Image: Merseaside Police)
A prolific burglar who asked not to be released from prison because he said he “wasn’t ready” went on to carry out a string of break-ins after being freed early. Stephen Harold, 54, was released under Sir Keir Starmer’s early release scheme after serving less than half of his prison sentence.
Within weeks, he burgled a home while the woman living there was asleep before admitting carrying out a further nine burglaries and attempted burglaries. The serial offender has a criminal record stretching back to the 1980s and has dozens of previous convictions. The early release policy was introduced by Sir Keir to ease pressure on overcrowded prisons.
The early release policy was introduced by Sir Keir to ease pressure on overcrowded prisons (Image: Getty)
As a result, Harold was freed after serving 40% of his sentence instead of half, in line with the changes brought in under the scheme.
Lawyers representing Harold told the court he had asked not to be released because he did not believe he was ready to leave prison, The Telegraph reported.
John Weate, defending, told Liverpool Crown Court: “The defendant’s life has been blighted with the misuse of controlled substances. He was subject to his last sentence when the government imposed the early release because of prison overpopulation. He asked not to be released because he was fearful and knew that he wasn’t ready.
“He knew the likelihood would be that, in a very short space of time, he would find himself back in this situation.”
Within 20 days of being released, Harold broke into a house in Wallasey, Wirral, where a woman woke to discover her front door open despite locking it the night before. He stole a £700 Prada coat, a £250 handbag, an £800 laptop and a pair of Samsung ear pods.
A neighbour’s Ring doorbell camera captured Harold getting off a bike and approaching the property at about 2.45am.
When he was later questioned by police, Harold reportedly began “ranting on about being thrown out of prison early with no support” and said he had offended because he had “not been able to get his script”.
Andy Burnham has ordered the Ministry of Justice to pause the next stage of the scheme (Image: Getty)
Harold admitted two counts of burglary and also asked for nine further burglary and attempted burglary offences to be taken into consideration.
Before appearing at Liverpool Crown Court in April 2025, where he was jailed for four years and eight months, Harold had 25 previous convictions for 66 offences, including 32 for burgling homes.
He was one of more than 38,000 prisoners whose custodial terms were shortened between September 2024 and June 2025 under the early release policy.
Last week, Prime Minister Andy Burnham ordered the Ministry of Justice to pause the next stage of the scheme while it carries out a review.
Mr Burnham said: “Keeping the public safe will always be my top priority. I am working closely with the new Justice Secretary and have instructed my team to put a pause on the changes that were due to start in September.
“No prisoners will be let out under this policy until we have conducted an urgent review and done everything we can to minimise risk to the public. Where changes are needed, we will not hesitate to make them.”