'They may not have got a life sentence, but I did' - Sophie Lancaster's mum reacts as daughter's killer to be freed

The mother of Sophie Lancaster, who was beaten to death by a gang in the summer of 2007, has said she is 'very disappointed' by the decision to free one of her killers from prison. Reacting to the decision, Sylvia Lancaster said that 'once again we have a justice system that fails to deliver justice' and that the original life sentence reflected the 'level of violence' her daughter was subjected to during a 'feral' attack.

Ryan Herbert was 16 years old when he was jailed for life in 2008 for murdering Sophie in a park in Lancashire. The Parole Board decided Herbert can now be released on licence, 15 years after he took part in the attack.

Sylvia said she could not understand the decision being made 'because they have done well in prison' when the Parole Board knew 'the reality of the level of violence' Sophie had been subjected to, Lancashire Live reports.

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Herbert admitted murdering 20-year-old Sophie, who died from her injuries after being viciously beaten as she cradled Robert Maltby’s head in her lap in 2007. He also pleaded guilty to assault causing grievous bodily harm with intent to Mr Maltby and was given a minimum term of 16 years and three months – later reduced to 15-and-a-half years on appeal.

In 2020, Herbert, of Bacup, Lancashire, had his tariff cut to 14-and-a-half years when a High Court judge concluded he had made 'exceptional progress' in jail. The Parole Board found he had made 'significant changes to his life which reflected his remorse, his insight and increased maturity.'

“After considering the circumstances of his offending and examining the evidence for the progress