Leroy Douglas: Man who spent 20 years in UK prison for stealing a Nokia mobile phone set to be released
‘It’s like they’ve just locked him up and thrown the key away, and just forgotten about him.’
A father who has been locked up for 20 years after stealing a Nokia mobile phone is set to be released next month.
As a young adult, Leroy Douglas was convicted of petty crimes including shoplifting.
When Douglas stole a Nokia phone from his cousin’s boyfriend in 2005 while addicted to drugs, he was convicted under the controversial Imprisonment for Public Protection system.
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By continuing you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy.The IPP system was a sentencing scheme introduced by England and Wales in 2005 for offenders considered to be dangerous but not worthy of lifetime imprisonment.
Offenders under the IPP were given minimum sentences but left in prison indefinitely passed this point, only released when the Parole Board was satisfied it was safe to do so.
Douglas’ minimum term was two and a half years.
His sister Natalie Douglas told the Daily Mail it felt like her brother had been “forgotten”.
“It’s like they’ve just locked him up and thrown the key away, and just forgotten about him,” she said.
“His life has been stolen from him, just for stealing a mobile phone.”
“He has been in for so long. It’s just been horrible not having my brother, and growing up together.”
“And my mum not having her son there. All my family missed him.”
Ms Douglas said that her brother had missed many important family milestones and events in the two decades he has been behind bars.
One of his daughters died at the age of 19.
“My brother hasn’t been able to even grieve for her,” she said.
The United Nations examined Douglas’ case and found that keeping him in prison amounted to arbitrary detention under international law.
The IPP system was abolished in 2012 for new cases, but prisoners sentenced under the system did not have their sentences altered.
Ms Douglas said she understood that stealing was wrong, but that the punishment did not fit the crime.
“I know it was wrong for him to steal, but taking a Nokia phone? He never used any violence,” she said.
“I know that’s not an excuse. I know this, but he just took a Nokia phone and 20 years for a phone – that’s barbaric. That’s crazy.”
Douglas is expected to be released next month to a bail hostel hours away from his family.
When released, he will have a curfew, face mandatory drug testing, and be monitored with a GPS tag.
“Even though he’s coming home, he’s not coming home, really, is he?” Ms Douglas said.
“Because he’s still in the system, you know.”
“His life has really been ruined. It’s been stolen away.”
