Family of Bury dad jailed 12 years ago for phone robbery slam system

Thomas White, from Bury, was given an imprisonment for public protection (IPP) sentence in 2012 following the crime.

IPPs were a type of indeterminate sentence courts could impose after being introduced by the Criminal Justice Act 2003.

Nearly 3,000 prisoners, many of whom are very low-level offenders, remain in prisons today on such sentences.

Thomas, who is said to have a history of committing petty crimes, was ordered to serve a minimum of two years, only a few months before IPPs were abolished.

But after more than a decade behind bars, there is no immediate prospect of him being released.

Read more: Piotr Ludwiczak: Death of Bury dad a tragedy, says judge

Since his incarceration, he has been languishing at prisons around the UK including HMP Chelmsford and HMP Swaleside on the Isle of Sheppey in Kent.

When Thomas was based at HMP Swaleside, his family were able to visit him only once due to the cost of the 600-mile round trip, which was more than £900.

Thomas’ latest transfer has seen him return to HMP Manchester, where he began serving his IPP sentence back in 2012.

Until recently, he did not have the basic right to see his son, Kayden White who is now aged 14.

Thomas White with his son Kayden (Image: Public)

However, an intervention by Lord David Blunkett, a former Home Secretary and original architect of the IPP sentence who since admitted “he got it wrong”, made a reunion possible at HMP Garth in May, 12 years since their last meeting.

Kayden is hoping to see his dad again for the second time this month.

Kayden with his grandmother Margaret after the visit (Image: Margaret White)

Thomas’ family says that the constant transfers have prevented him from settling at a prison and progressing with his sentence, and this has had a considerable negative impact on his mental health.

Read more: Diagnoses for mixed dementia at Bury centre nearly doubles, data shows

A recent independent assessment found Thomas has developed paranoid schizophrenia in prison and that his treatment under his IPP sentence was the probable cause of this.

Thomas’ family are seriously concerned his most recent transfer to HMP Manchester, where he is spending 23 hours a day in his cell, will cause him added distress.

The family are now urgently seeking his transfer to a psychiatric hospital where he can access appropriate mental health treatment.

Lord Blunkett and Bury North MP James Daly have pledged their support to the mission and to challenge two hospitals in Greater Manchester which have reportedly rejected a bed for Thomas in the last six months, despite his worsening mental health.

Read more: Bury's most wanted - May 30 2024

Thomas’ sister Clara White said: “My brother who has paranoid schizophrenia has been passed around like a parcel by prisons across Britain.

“They haven’t thought twice about his condition or how to help him be released.

"They just care about the short-term numbers.

“This system is a shambles and my brother and many others like him are the victims. It’s been 12 years and 12 prisons.

“This prisons merry-go-round isn’t what justice is about – they’ve failed and forgotten us.”

In February, a Ministry of Justice spokesperson said: “We have reduced the number of unreleased IPP prisoners by three-quarters since we scrapped the sentence in 2012, with a 12 per cent fall in the last year alone where the Parole Board deemed prisoners safe to release.

“We have also taken decisive action to curtail licence periods and continue to help those still in custody to progress towards release including improving access to rehabilitation programmes and mental health support.”