Daily Mail
· collected 2026-09-10 · by Gethin Hicks, Patrick Harrington
Albert Bowers, one of two people who dragged PC Andrew Harper to his death in 2019, was being considered for early release from prison despite also being a convicted sex offender. Bowers and Jessie Cole were set to be released halfway through their 13-year sentences for manslaughter but a public outcry led Prime Minister Andy Burnham to exclude those convicted of unlawful killing from the release scheme. The report suggests that Bowers committed his sex crime before the age of 18, which would have kept it out of public records due to child anonymity laws. Bowers is currently held at HMP Frankland and was deemed a "sex offender", "violent", and "racist" on facility records.
Written by the local model on 2026-09-10,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
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One of PC Andrew Harper's killers who until last month was being considered for early release from prison is reportedly also a convicted sex offender.
Albert Bowers, 24, was in line to be released from prison alongside 29-year-old Jessie Cole just halfway through their 13-year sentences for manslaughter.
Bowers and Cole were two of three people in a car that dragged PC Harper down a country road after he got caught in a strap attached to the vehicle as they fled the scene of a quad bike theft in Sulhamstead, Berkshire.
uncertain
they → see → Sulhamstead
After a major public outcry, Prime Minister Andy Burnham was eventually forced to keep hundreds of criminals behind bars in order to prevent the duo's release.
asserted
Burnham → force → release
Now, however, reports suggest that Bowers committed a sex crime prior to PC Harper's death in 2019 - but was still considered fit for an early release.
asserted
Bowers → suggest → release
The criminal, who is being held at the high-security HMP Frankland, is thought to be listed as a 'sex offender', 'violent' and 'racist' on the facility's records.
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who → hold → records
A source told The Sun: 'This is outrageous and shows he is a danger to society and woman in particular.
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he → tell → society
It likely means he offended on the outside before he was jailed.
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he → mean → outside
'That would mean he would have been under 18 and not named in public records because children have right to anonymity in relation to crimes.
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children → mean → crimes
Albert Bowers, 24, was in line to be released from prison just halfway through a 13-year sentence for manslaughter
Bowers (left) 29-year-old Jessie Cole (right) were passengers in a vehicle that dragged a police officer along a country road
PC Andrew Harper, pictured with wife Lissie, died after he got caught in a strap tied to the vehicle
'
asserted
he → release → vehicle
But the authorities know about it and that's why it's marked on files.
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it → know → files
It is a disgrace he was ever slated for release.
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he → slat → release
The revelation comes after it emerged that one of Bowers' two accomplices, Cole, was deemed a 'risk to staff' by jail bosses at Whitemoor Prison in Cambridgeshire.
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one → come → Cambridgeshire
Henry Long, meanwhile, the driver of the vehicle which dragged Harper to his death, is serving a 16-year sentence and was never deemed eligible for release.
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which → drag → release
The early release scheme was introduced in September 2024 amid an overcrowding crisis in the country's jails.
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scheme → introduce → jails
It allows certain prisoners to be released after serving 40 per cent of their fixed-term sentence rather than the usual 50 per cent.
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prisoners → allow → cent
Following a huge outcry at news that Bowers and Cole could be freed in January, Burnham told the BBC in an interview last month that anyone convicted of unlawful killing - including all forms of manslaughter - would be excluded from the scheme.
uncertain
anyone → follow → scheme
Those convicted of historic child sex offences and indecent assault were also excluded.
asserted
Those → convict → offences
PC Harper's mother Debbie Adlam said she was 'grateful' for the Prime Minister's decision, but added that the family is 'only back at where we were to start with' after several 'traumatic months'.
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we → say → months
The chairwoman of Thames Valley Police Federation, Aileen O'Connor said: 'PC Andrew Harper made the ultimate sacrifice for the job that he loved, serving communities, serving society.
'
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he → say → society
His killers should never have been considered for early release.
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killers → consider → release
It remains shocking that they were.
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they → remain → ?
We are pleased that the Government – despite what was, frankly, initial reluctance – has eventually listened, seen sense and made the right decision to keep these low-lifes behind bars.
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what → listen → bars
They had no option.
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They → have → option
The fact that more than one million people signed our petition over this was a historic public backing for police officers.
'
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people → sign → officers
The fact 50 chief constables across the UK wrote an open letter calling for the Government to reconsider was unprecedented.
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Government → write → letter
The right and proper decision has been made.'
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decision → make → ?
Since becoming Prime Minister, Mr Burnham has excluded rapists and child sex offenders from being eligible for the scheme following widespread condemnation.
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Burnham → become → condemnation
Some 5,000 people are now expected to be released early under sentencing changes under the Government's scheme, down from 6,000 after Mr Burnham's two exemptions were put in place.
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exemptions → expect → place
Unlawful act manslaughter is when a person causes the death of another while committing a separate illegal act.
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person → cause → act
Mr Burnham said extra space in prisons would be created by deporting foreign prisoners and releasing inmates who are serving indefinite sentences under Imprisonment for Public Protection sentences (IPPs), which were given to offenders considered a significant risk to the public between 2005 and 2012.
asserted
which → say → 2005
