A father held under an abolitionized indefinite prison sentence has made six attempts on his own life after serving 25 times longer than his original sentence. The independent can reveal.
James Lawrence was given a discredited Public Protection Order (IPP) prison sentence with a minimum term of eight months in 2006 for threatening someone with a starting pistol.
When he was 20, he told the court he carried the imitation rifle for protection after nearly losing his life in a stabbing in the same part of Southampton the year before.
Now 38, he is believed to be one of Britain's longest-serving IPP overcharged prisoners, having spent nearly 18 years in custody.
But The independent has learned that Labor will turn its back on him - and almost 3,000 other IPP prisoners still languishing in cells - by rejecting a review of indefinite prison sentences.
IPP sentences were scrapped in 2012 over human rights concerns, but not for those already imprisoned.
"In his time he has seen murderers come in and murderers go home," James' heartbroken mother Mandy Lawrence said. The independent.
'It's torment for his family, let alone him. I keep thinking: Will I see him properly before I die? I was in my forties when he went in there and now I'm in my sixties. It's heartbreaking, honestly."
At the time of his sentence - minus the time he had already spent on remand - Lawrence had to spend a further four months and fourteen days in prison before reaching his minimum tariff of eight months. He was also given a concurrent 10-month prison sentence for assault during a separate drunken bar fight, which has long since expired.
A growing number of campaigners - including Lord Blunkett, who was Home Secretary at the time the IPPs were introduced - have called for them to leave, with families saying it will be "inexcusable" if they refuse.
The independent has learned from Justice Department sources that resentencing is not being considered due to concerns over the release of a number of dangerous prisoners.
However, Labor peer Lord Woodley, who introduced a bill earlier this month to re-punish all IPP prisoners, insists there is "everything to play for".
"Ministers are not yet on the same page when it comes to the grudge exercise that my bill proposes," he told this publication. "But they share my determination to end the IPP punishment scandal once and for all. So there is everything to play for."
He said Mr Lawrence's case was "shocking" and hopes his bill will help get him and similar prisoners out of prison.
Of the 2,734 IPP prisoners still inside, more than 700 have served more than a decade longer than their minimum rate.
These include a range of injustices highlighted by The independent such as that of Thomas White, who set himself on fire after serving more than twelve years for stealing a mobile phone, and Abdullahi Suleman, who served nineteen years behind bars for a laptop heist.
At least 90 IPP prisoners have committed suicide in prison because they lost hope of release.
Ms Lawrence revealed that her son, who was once a talented footballer, has fallen into the recall mill experienced by many IPP prisoners, who can be hauled back to prison for minor breaches of strict licensing conditions.
He has been recalled to prison five times in the last twenty years and remains inside despite having no further convictions.
According to paperwork seen by The independent On one occasion, Mr Lawrence was recalled two months after being released because he returned to his bail hostel two hours and five minutes after curfew.
On another occasion, he went into hiding for six months to be with his pregnant partner for the birth of their daughter.
The stress forced Ms Lawrence, 65, who lives near Winchester, into early retirement from her job as an NHS mental health nurse. Meanwhile, her parents could no longer see their grandson released from prison.
"It broke my dad's heart to be honest because even though James was a bit of a lowlife, as he called him, he loved him," Mrs Lawrence said.
"James is not a bad person, he was very nice and polite, it just escalated out of nowhere. He was a brilliant footballer and went to a school of excellence, but everything fell apart and no one could do anything.
"I blamed myself for years. And then you worry about the times he tried to commit suicide. Will he try again?
She said Lawrence has made several attempts on his own life, including two this year alone. On one occasion he did not eat or drink for five days and was found collapsed in his cell.
The mother called on the government to urgently punish all remaining IPP prisoners, starting with those with the lowest initial rate.
She added: "I think so [resentencing] should have happened when they abolished the IPP penalty in 2012. In particular, low-rate prisoners should all have been given a new sentence and then worked their way through those who had longer sentences.
"But no, they are not interested. I think the reason for this is that they think they are going to try to get compensation from the government - and they deserve that."
In 2022, the Justice Select Committee made recommendations to the then Tory government to convict all IPP prisoners, but this was rejected. Earlier this year, they agreed to reduce the licensing period for released IPP prisoners from ten to three years.
Lord Woodley said: 'This is a shocking case; one of many shocking cases. I welcome the recent steps taken by the Minister of Justice, Shabana Mahmood, to reduce the risk of unnecessary recalls to prison, which will hopefully help those, like James, in the future.
"But we need to get out of jail the IPP prisoners who are languishing in jail for years after the time set by their judge. My grudge against Bill will help achieve this."
A Ministry of Justice spokesperson said: "It is correct that IPP penalties have been abolished. The Lord Chancellor is committed to working with organizations and campaign groups to ensure the right course of action is taken to support those still serving IPP sentences.
"The Prison Service continues to provide additional support to those remaining in custody, including improving access to rehabilitation programs and mental health care."
If you are experiencing feelings of anxiety or are struggling to cope, you can speak to the Samaritans in confidence on 116 123 (UK and ROI), email If you are in another country, you can go there www.befrienders.org to find a helpline near you. jo@samaritans.orgor visit the Samaritans website for more information about your nearest branch. If you live in the US and you or someone you know needs mental health care right now, call or text 988, or visit 988lifeline.org to access online chat from the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. This is a free, confidential crisis line that is available to everyone 24 hours a day, seven days a week.