Family disgusted as killer freed

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The father of a boy punched and kicked to death two years ago has said he is disgusted his son's killer has been freed and can return to Kent.

Lee Cowie, 19, was sentenced to four years in a young offenders' institute last May but was freed on Friday.

Lloyd Chapman, whose son Michael, 16, was killed, said he fears his family may bump into Cowie, who is free to go anywhere but Medway and Sittingbourne.

Kent Probation Service confirmed Cowie had served his sentence.

Cowie pleaded guilty to Michael's manslaughter in an attack on playing fields near his home in Sittingbourne in June 2006.

Mr Chapman said he was informed by the probation service that Cowie was about to be released and he could move freely in Kent, but was banned from Medway and Sittingbourne.

Michael Chapman is buried near his family home in Sittingbourne

He said the Chapmans regularly went outside their home town, particularly to Maidstone, where they had extended family and where his wife, Sue, worked.

"I think someone should have consulted us as a family and asked if we had any objections to him going to certain towns - I think that would have been fair," he said.

He added Cowie's release had caused great upset.

"It has destroyed us even further," he said.

"We were not getting over it - but we were getting by each day - finding the excuse to eat, drink and have a reason to work.

"We felt guilty that we were enjoying the simple comforts when Michael couldn't."

A spokesman for Kent Probation Service said he could not discuss Lee Cowie's case but it was "perfectly normal" for some form of ban to be imposed after release.

"We have had contact with the Chapman family, in accordance with our normal policy.

"We sympathise with all victims of crime and we do our utmost to keep them informed of the progress of sentences."

Father fears meeting his son's killer