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Armed robber freed against advice Armed robber freed against advice
(about 4 hours later)
An armed robber who almost killed a jewellery shop manager had been freed from jail a year early against official advice, the BBC has discovered. An armed robber who shot a jeweller had been freed from jail a year earlier against the advice of prison, probation and medical staff, the BBC has learned.
Sean Henry, 35, of south London, was convicted in May of shooting Darren Prior in Horsham, West Sussex, in 2005. Sean Henry, 35, of south London, was convicted of the attempted murder of Darren Prior in West Sussex in 2005.
The shooting, after a £50,000 raid, came after Henry was freed on licence, following a 14-year jail term for murder, against probation advice. The shooting during a £50,000 raid followed a decision by a Parole Board panel to free Henry on licence after he had served 13 years for murder.
Probation services had recommended he spend two years in an open jail first. A "lack of detailed written reasons" were given for why advice was ignored.
Medical staff also agreed that Henry needed to adapt to outside life before getting a full release. It had been recommended that Henry should spend two years in an open prison, in order to re-adapt to outside life, before getting a full release.
Previous parole Bullet hit phone
Parole board officials, who agreed to Henry's release, have now said that such prisoners will spend time in open prisons in future unless there were "exceptional circumstances". Parole board officials have now said that prisoners like Henry will spend time in open jails in future unless "exceptional circumstances" are presented.
It has also emerged during the BBC investigation that Henry had been freed on licence previously and had been sent back to jail for failing to keep his probation appointments. He was originally jailed in 1990 for kicking and beating a person to death when he was just 17.
Mr Prior, 25, was shot at as he chased Henry down an alleyway in 2005. We wish to convey our sympathies to the victim and his family for the trauma they have suffered Parole Board statement
His shop, Amore Jewellers, in Horsham, was looted of diamond rings worth £50,000. The BBC investigation found he was released on life licence in May 1999, but was sent back to jail after seven months for failing to keep his probation appointments.
Bullet ricocheted The Parole Board said two further hearings refused Henry's release, before a third panel concluded "that it was not necessary for the protection of the public that he continued to be detained".
At Henry's trial earlier this year, jurors heard Mr Prior survived being shot at from 20ft because the bullet ricocheted off the mobile phone in his suit jacket pocket. He was released on 24 August 2004.
During the raid, Henry, of Wallington, threatened to shoot Mr Prior's colleague Christopher Purvis in the leg unless he opened a display cabinet, jurors at Lewes Crown Court were told. In September the following year, Henry shot Mr Prior as he chased him down an alleyway in Horsham, West Sussex.
Judge Charles Kemp said in June that Henry must serve 15 years before parole is considered, for public protection. The manager of Amore Jewellers, which had been looted of diamond rings worth £50,00, only survived because the bullet ricocheted off the mobile phone in his suit jacket pocket.
Darren Prior chased Henry after he stole £50,000 of diamond rings
Henry, of Wallington, was convicted in May of attempted murder, robbery and possessing a firearm, and sentenced last month to at least 15 years in prison.
The Parole Board said a review of Henry's case was carried out in April 2006, while he was on police bail in connection with the armed robbery.
One of its findings was "the lack of detailed written reasons given by the panel for their decision not to test the prisoner in open conditions before considering release".
"The panel members in this case have all been advised in writing of the findings of the review committee," a Parole Board statement said.
"Since this case took place, the Board has formally adopted a policy that the release of an indeterminate sentence prisoner from 'closed' conditions should only take place in exceptional circumstances," it added.
"The Board wishes to convey its sympathies to the victim and his family for the trauma they have suffered."
Henry and an accomplice were caught after a prison officer recognised him on a BBC Crimewatch appeal.Henry and an accomplice were caught after a prison officer recognised him on a BBC Crimewatch appeal.