Overview

• Linda de Sousa Abreu walked free on licence after serving five months of a 15-month sentence for misconduct in public office over filmed sex with inmate Linton Weirich at HMP Wandsworth.
• New Ministry of Justice rules designed to ease prison overcrowding allow well-behaved offenders to be freed after serving one-third of their term.
• Ex-Met Police detective Peter Bleksley condemned the early release as “soft justice” that could undermine the deterrent effect of sentencing.
• The Ministry of Justice says released offenders face strict licence conditions and can be recalled to custody immediately for any breach.
• The original incident highlighted severe overcrowding and poor conditions at Wandsworth and triggered increased harassment of female prison officers.