An ex-prisoner who was let out of jail as part of an early release scheme in 2023 said he is proof it can work.

Richard Nicholls said he reclaimed valuable time after being let out 12 months into his three year sentence.

He was jailed for fraud by misrepresentation in December 2022 after ‘making some mistakes’ while working a property development job and struggling with gambling.

But he was released in December 2023 on tag as part of an early release scheme, and used the extra time to ‘rebuild momentum’ and spend time with his then three-year-old daughter.

He told Metro: ‘If I had done the full three years in prison, I would have lost contact with my family and had no prospects upon leaving.’

Richard, now 42, was able to get a job in Timpsons and arranged business plans to be able to get back into his industry.

‘I was an alien in prison, I was not myself,’ he said. ‘You meet other prisoners who just spend their lives going in and out of the system – I was close to falling into that trap.’

He added: ‘From my experience, the people that were leaving were the good guys. But there are lots of prisoners I have met who should have their sentences doubled.’

Groups of convicts left prisons across the country this morning with around 700 prisoners due to be let out of jail early.

Offenders serving sentences for fraud, domestic abuse and coercive control are now eligible for release after a third of their term in a move designed to free-up prison space.

Some prisoners appeared jubilant as they walked out onto the streets, with one heard shouting ‘I’m free, freebie!’

Meanwhile domestic abuse victims have been left feeling ‘disgusted’ their abusers walked free today.

Leah Morton, 21, was repeatedly left concussed with bruises while in a relationship with Joseph Hartley in Bridlington from October 2025 until his arrest in March.

He continued to attack after she fell pregnant, even covering her mouth and attempting to strangle her.

Hartley was jailed for 18 months in April after he pleaded guilty to controlling and coercive behaviour, intentional strangulation, assault occasioning actual gross bodily harm and assault by beating at Grimsby Crown Court.

But just five months later he was released yesterday as part of the government’s early release scheme, which her family branded ‘disgusting’.

Leah told Metro: ‘He would beat me until I was physically on the floor and he couldn’t manage anymore. Even though I was pregnant he would kick my stomach.’

Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.

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