A criminal convicted of a violent crime involving a meat cleaver has remained incarcerated for 15 years since the incident. Andrew Whittle, aged 48, received an indefinite sentence for public protection (IPP) from a judge at Bolton Crown Court in 2011 for assaulting a Good Samaritan. Initially sentenced to three years and four months, Whittle has not been released from his original term.
IPP, implemented between 2005 and 2012, targeted dangerous offenders who did not qualify for life imprisonment but posed significant risks. This sentencing approach included a minimum tariff followed by indeterminate detention until the offender was deemed safe for release by the Parole Board. However, it resulted in prolonged periods of imprisonment for many, as highlighted by the Prison Reform Trust.
While serving time at HMP Dartmoor in 2024, Whittle was found in possession of three mobile phones, including an iPhone and a Samsung device, along with two chargers. Despite making calls using these devices, no illegal activities were reported. Whittle, now located at HMP Fosse Way, has a history of 22 convictions for 91 offenses and pleaded guilty to eight charges related to the phone possessions.
During a court hearing at Plymouth Crown Court, Judge Robert Linford acknowledged Whittle’s lengthy incarceration under the IPP sentence and his recent phone offenses. Although expressing some sympathy for Whittle’s situation, the judge imposed an additional 18-month jail term for the phone violations, emphasizing the necessity of deterrence. Whittle was also instructed to pay a victim surcharge of £187.
In his previous crime in 2011, Whittle attacked a woman who had offered him a ride, inflicting head injuries requiring 20 stitches. He admitted attempted robbery, wounding with intent, and carrying an offensive weapon, resulting in his original IPP sentence in Bolton.
HMP Dartmoor ceased operations in 2024 due to safety concerns related to radon gas, costing the HM Prison and Probation Service £4 million annually for maintenance despite the facility remaining vacant. The service is expected to continue paying this amount until the lease expires in 2033, totaling an estimated £32 million for the remaining period.