A man given a three-year jail term for a robbery in 2011 is still in prison 15 years later. Andrew Whittle, now 48, received the sentence for a violent robbery judged as ‘horrific’ at Bolton Crown Court. Originally set at three years and four months under the indeterminate sentence for public protection (IPP), Whittle has remained incarcerated beyond the initial term.
The IPPs, implemented from 2005 to 2012, targeted dangerous criminals not eligible for life sentences. These sentences comprised a minimum tariff followed by indefinite detention until deemed safe for release by the Parole Board. However, this system led to extended periods of imprisonment, as highlighted by the Prison Reform Trust. While at HMP Dartmoor in 2024, Whittle was found in possession of multiple mobile phones, including an iPhone and a Samsung device, along with chargers.
During a court hearing at Plymouth Crown Court on 12 May, it was revealed that Whittle made numerous calls from the phones to family members, although none were unlawful. With a record of 22 convictions for 91 offenses, Whittle admitted to eight charges related to the unauthorized use of the phones. The presiding judge, Robert Linford, emphasized Whittle’s lengthy incarceration period, noting the breach of prison rules with the phone possession.
Despite questioning the fairness of the IPP sentence, Judge Linford ultimately sentenced Whittle to an additional 18 months in prison for the phone offenses, stating it was the minimum penalty he could impose. Whittle was also ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £187.
In 2011, Whittle, then 32, attacked a woman who had offered him a ride, causing severe head injuries with a meat cleaver. This incident led to his initial imprisonment under the IPP. HMP Dartmoor, where Whittle was held, has been closed since 2024 due to safety concerns related to radioactive radon gas, costing the prison service £4 million annually for maintenance despite being vacant.
Unless measures are taken to reopen Dartmoor and utilize the facility, the prison service will continue to incur significant expenses on an empty prison until the lease expires in 2033, amounting to an estimated £32 million over the remaining lease period.