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After 22 Years Behind Bars, Iain Macpherson Says Life Outside Is So Hard He'd Return to Prison

The 54-year-old describes homelessness, benefit reliance, lifelong probation, leaving him shut out of work or housing.

Overview

  • Iain Macpherson, originally from Harrow, London, served 22 years on two life sentences and was released in October 2014.
  • He now reports sofa surfing and hotel stays funded by debt, receives Universal Credit and PIP, and says a council deemed him voluntarily homeless.
  • He says he asked to be recalled to custody and even missed three probation appointments but remains on lifelong probation in the community.
  • Macpherson says three years of applications through eight Job Centres led nowhere and that staff told him there was no point in applying.
  • He abandoned plans for self-employment after a quoted £9,800 annual car insurance premium he says was tied to his conviction, despite earning multiple qualifications in prison.