A Bolton father, recalled to prison, seeks intervention from the Justice Secretary to avoid incarceration again
Bolton: A dad named Matthew Booth is currently on the run after being recalled to prison. He’s reaching out to the Justice Secretary for help.
At just 33, Matthew has faced a tough road. He got an indefinite Imprisonment for Public Protection (IPP) sentence for wounding someone when he was just 15. These sentences were meant for those seen as dangerous but not quite life-sentence material.
Even though they stopped issuing these sentences in 2012, many people like Matthew are still affected. They can be sent back to prison even after years of good behavior.
Matthew was first sentenced at 16 and released in 2013. Since then, he’s been recalled three times, often without any charges sticking. His latest release was in November 2023 after serving 19 months.
Now, he’s been recalled again, this time over claims he rekindled a relationship with his ex-partner, the mother of his kids, which they both deny.
He told the Guardian he’s planning to live in a forest to avoid going back to jail. He feels the whole IPP system is unfair. “If I could go back to a hostel, I’d turn myself in, but I fear I’d just end up back in prison,” he said.
Matthew is trying to stay strong for his kids, sending them Christmas cards while braving the cold. He’s torn between wanting to turn himself in and the fear of what that might mean for him.
He’s also reached out to Shabana Mahmood, the new Justice Secretary, asking her to ensure he doesn’t go straight back to prison. “If she could promise that, I’d hand myself in right away,” he said.
Supporters like Shirley Debono from the IPP Committee in Action are backing him, urging the Justice Secretary to step in. Meanwhile, a spokesperson for the prison service reminded everyone that offenders on license must follow strict rules and can be recalled if there are safety concerns.
