Cardiff man serving IPP to be released from prison 21 years after phone robbery – BBC News
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My son was jailed indefinitely for stealing a mobile – we’ve waited 21 years to see him released
By Charlie Buckland, BBC News
Leroy Douglas was just 24 when he was jailed in 2005 for stealing a mobile phone and handed an indeterminate sentence of imprisonment for public protection (IPP). More than two decades later, he remains imprisoned.
"It’s like your son being killed – he’s here but he’s not," said his father, Anthony Douglas.
Leroy had a history of drug addiction and petty crimes before the robbery. His family was shocked by the IPP sentence, which meant indefinite detention. Now 45, Leroy is set to be released in October, a decision announced weeks before Prime Minister Andy Burnham pledged to end IPPs.
The Douglas family has endured years of waiting, "torture" as Anthony described it, while they remained in legal limbo over Leroy’s future. During that time, his daughter and cousin have passed away, and both Anthony and Leroy’s sister, Natalie Douglas, have started a petition to bring him closer to home when he is released.
IPPs Explained
Introduced in 2005, IPPs were intended for serious offenders deemed a risk to the public. They imposed a minimum sentence with no maximum term, and prisoners had to be considered for release by the parole board. However, this was not automatic.
They also faced strict licence conditions upon release, risking recall to prison if violated.
Criticism led to IPPs being scrapped in 2012, but they were not made retrospective, leaving around 2,400 people still imprisoned on IPP sentences as of July, according to the United Nations. The Ministry of Justice reported 2,271 IPP prisoners as of June 30th.
Human Rights Concerns
Human rights lawyers argue IPPs violate fundamental human rights. Karen Todner, who successfully secured Leroy’s release through a writ of Habeas Corpus, described his current release conditions as "so stringent, his liberty is restricted."
Comparisons have been drawn between Leroy’s sentence and cases like that of Jeffrey Gaffoor, who murdered Lynette White in one of Wales’ most notorious crimes and was released from prison in 2025 after serving 21 years.
"Leroy stole a phone, how is it right?" asks Natalie.
