| Thug stabbed pregnant ex-girlfriend day after his early release to pregnant position ease prison overcrowding | Mail Online
Skip to main navigation
Skip to main content
Skip to search
news
Home
News
Sport
TV&Showbiz
Femail
Health
Science&Tech
You mag
Live mag
Coffee Break
Pictures
Debate
News Home
World news
Headlines
Pictures
Most read
News Board
Horoscopes
Travel
Money
My Stories
Logout
Login
Motors | Jobs | Property | Dating | Wine | Feedback | E-editions
Friday, August 01 2008 This Morning 17°C This Afternoon 22°C 5-Day pregnant survey Forecast
Thug stabbed pregnant ex-girlfriend day after his early release to ease prison overcrowding
By Andrew Levy
Last updated at 5:47 PM on 02nd July 2008
Comments (4)
Add to My Stories
Derek Burns: Stabbed his ex-girlfriend just a day after his early release
A violent offender stabbed his pregnant ex-girlfriend in the back a day after he was released early from prison to ease overcrowding.
Derek Burns, 45, had been jailed for four months after pregnant and son has stomach virus assaulting his then partner's mother but was freed after two weeks.
The following day he stabbed Leighanne Hammond, 23, with a 10ins carving knife in front of their four young children.
Miss Hammond, who needed emergency surgery for a punctured lung, was five months pregnant with their fifth child at the time.
A probation report seen by the Daily Mail revealed Burns already had 11 convictions for 17 offences dating back to 1999 - mainly for 'violence and damage to property in the domestic context'.
Speaking after he was jailed indefinitely for wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, Miss Hammond said: 'I am shocked and disappointed that he spent just a few days locked up.
'If he hadn't been free he wouldn't have been able to attack me. I thought I was going to die.'
Miss Hammond, who gave birth to a boy in March, also criticised the authorities for failing to notify her of Burns's release and sending him to her father's home, his last known bail address.
The case will reignite the debate over the Government's End of Custody Licence (ECL) scheme, under which convicts have 18 days taken off jail terms.
It has been blamed for the death of mother-of-two Amanda Murphy, 48, who was murdered by boyfriend Andrew Mournian after he was released early from a 20-week sentence for a previous attack.
Mournian, 36, was sentenced to life in December and ordered to serve at least 14 years.
Tory leader David Cameron raised the issue during Prime Minister's Questions today when he warned people convicted of domestic violence had been released early and reoffended.
Demanding answers: Tory leader David Cameron raised the issue of early release and reoffending at Prime Minister's Questions today
Gordon Brown said less then one per cent of prisoners released early under the scheme went on to reoffend.
But Liberal Democrat justice spokesman David Howarth said yesterday: 'Chronic overcrowding in our prisons has led to violent offenders serving sentences based on the amount of cells available rather than the severity of the crime.'
And Cindy Barnett, chairman of the Magistrates' Association, said members were concerned that early release from custody 'shakes confidence in the system'.
Unemployed Burns was sentenced to 16 weeks at Bury Magistrates Court in Suffolk in November last year after admitting pregnant animated images assaulting Stephanie Evans and drink driving.
In common with other offenders with short sentences he was due to serve half the term. After 24 days on remand he had 32 days left to serve.
But the 18-day ECL rule meant he spent just 14 days at Peterborough prison before being released on December 14.
During the trial at Ipswich Crown Court, Miss Hammond described how she was stabbed in front of her screaming children, who are aged between one and five.
She said: 'I was holding his hands and begging him to stop but he was just mad by this point.
'My four-year-old at the time, Taylor, jumped on his dad's back which disoriented him a bit. I managed to get the knife out of his hand and throw it across the kitchen.
'I could feel my back all wet. I knew something had happened.'
Miss Hammond was treated in an intensive care unit after running out of the house and hiding behind a car as she called 999.
The jury took just 45 minutes to convict Burns following a four-day trial last month.
Sentencing him on Monday, Judge David Goodin said it had been a 'vicious attack' which demonstrated Burns's 'inability to control the violence smouldering within you'.
He added Burns would serve at least two years before being considered for parole.
Nearly 29,000 criminals have benefited from the ECL scheme since it was introduced 11 months ago.
The Government had predicted the number would be just 25,500 in its first year.
Print this article
Read later
Email to a friend
Share this article:
Digg it
|
Del.icio.us
|
Reddit
|
Newsvine
|
Nowpublic
|
Facebook
|
MySpace
|
Fark
Add your comments View all
Comments (4)
Here's what readers have had to say so far. Why not add your thoughts below?
It is a sorry reflection on the amount of crime committed in this country that the jails are so overcrowded. Meanwhile, why are they not deporting those in detention centres and using the buildings as jails? It would certainly save the taxpayer money for the keep of those currently in detention centres and would make the public safer as dangerous criminals would be behind bars.
- Sue, St Albans, UK, 02/7/2008 19:23
So this man pregnant texas chip who has a string of convictions behind him dating back nearly 10 years was released from prison to ease over-crowding only anal pressure while pregnant to be sentenced for what he has previously been convicted for?
This country and it's prison system makes me laugh. They knowingly release inmates scott baio and pregnant back into society, who are more than likely to offend again; Only it costs another person's life to lock them up indefinitely. It's disgusting.
- Jenny, London, 02/7/2008 19:15
Empty the prisons and put them on the front line in either Iraq or Afghanistan.
- Defne, Turkey, 02/7/2008 18:25
**yourComments**
- **name**, **townAndCountry**, **creationDate**
View all
Add your comment
Name: Email: Your email address will not be published Town & Country: Your comments:
You have 1000 characters left.
Make text area bigger
Remember me - this will save you having to type out your name, location and email address when you next leave a comment.
Terms & conditions
Advanced Search
FEMAIL TODAY
'Jamie and I are desperate for a baby boy,' says Jools Oliver The mother of two girls says she will have IVF treatment again to give husband Jamie a son
Unmasked: The REAL Pamela Anderson...and the glam TV version See the former Baywatch star's amazing transformation
Why DO 26,000 British women a year disfigure themselves with breast enlargements? They're weird, vulgar and now pregnant belly story growing we know men don't even like them
The Stunningdale girls: Golf can be glamorous Johanna Head wants to be known more for her golf shots at the Women's Open than her camera shots
'Nobody asks me to strip off any more,' says Greta Scacci The actress spent her early career playing femme fatales and taking her clothes off on screen
Sadie Frost's clothing firm goes bust owing millions FrostFrench has been forced to fold with one creditor alone owed �3.3million
How Paul Nicholls bounced back from drugs and drink to become a TV doctor It was a case of life imitating art for the EastEnders actor
Why brunettes have more fun (on pay day) Gentlemen prefer them and they are supposed to have more fun - but brunettes earn more than blondes
When Laura Hill died in Argentina, police blamed drugs. Her father says not: 'She was a very principled young lady' Her parents suspect a cover-up for murder
Michael Douglas enjoys a long lunch with Catherine Zeta-Jones...then passes out in the sun Lunch in the sun proved too much for the actor
Premier TV role for Lindsay Duncan ... as Margaret hanna montanna pregnant Thatcher The actress has captured the steely glare of the Iron Lady for the BBC2 drama
My Top 50 Stories
Click on the icon below an article to save to your favourite stories file
Remove
Check box to remove
Open
Close
Remove
Check box to remove
Close
Today's headlines
Most Read
Decapitated body in suitcase: Teenager's drug dealer lover 'killed her and cut her into pieces'
Twisted mother kills son, 5, before committing suicide and leaving note to ex saying 'I told you I would make you pay'
Call for windfall tax on energy giants as big three announce 'grotesque' profits
Brown resists calls to sack 'troublemaker' Miliband as his popularity hits historic low
Who's heir wins: Prince William to train with the SAS
Marine dies 'of heat exhaustion' after gruelling forced punishment march
Three million homes now worth less than their buyers paid for them
Consultant suspended after 17 cancer patients wrongly given all-clear after hospital test bungle
Judge bans brain-damaged boy from suing over bouncy castle accident
Pictured: The moment a spa pregnant centennial co man punched a girl off her feet during a Facebook water fight
Antigua groom on his way back to Britain in air ambulance in last-ditch attempt to save his life
The miracle pill that can make you fit without moving a muscle
In the dock: A smiling and clean-shaven Beast of Bosnia claims he was kidnapped
Miracle escape for holidaymakers thrown from open-top bus after it overturns
Uninsured learner driver paula pregnant third who killed schoolgirl walks free from court with �265 fine
Bin police swoop on Boris Johnson's celebrity-filled neighbourhood
Teacher fails in unique High Court bid to have 'fanciful' rape claims struck from record
Couple shame Bovis with internet list of dozens of faults with new �700,000 home
Geology revealed: What the world looks like naked
After more than 100 years of searching, scientists find there IS water on Mars
Caught on camera: WPC blows raspberry after being caught parked on double yellow lines
Obama says McCain will scare voters by saying 'he doesn't look like all those other presidents on the dollar bills'
'Women must have brittle bone drug', campaigners beg Health Secretary
Wife of Premier League club boss jailed for three years on tax evasion
Private schools hit by the credit crunch - six close, dozens struggle
Solicitors complain violent clients are escaping with cautions because police are chasing targets
MORE HEADLINES
Pictured: The moment a man punched a girl off her feet during a Facebook water fight
Decapitated body of British girl, 17, found hacked to pieces in suitcase in Brazil
Evil mother who killed son, 5, to spite her ex left note saying: 'I told you I would make you pay'
Sadie's fashion label goes bust after running up �4m of debts
The Slop Bucket Kid for PM? The boy's ohio dissolution while pregnant a fool!
Caught on camera: WPC blows raspberry after parking on double yellow lines
Judge bans brain-damaged boy from suing over bouncy castle accident
Parents of shot Antigua groom 'to fly him back to Britain' in last-ditch attempt to save his life
Uninsured learner driver who killed schoolgirl walks free from court with �265 fine
Geology laid bare: What the world looks like naked
Teacher fails in unique High Court bid to have 'fanciful' rape claims struck from record
Wife of Premier League club boss jailed for three years on tax evasion
Miliband 'quits foreign trip' fuelling rumours of leadership challenge as Labour MPs call for his sacking
Pictured: Iconic Weston-super-Mare pier reopens for business, just three days after blaze destroys pavilion
Bin police swoop on Boris Johnson's celebrity-filled neighbourhood
Consultant suspended after 17 patients with cancer wrongly get the all-clear
Open-top bus horror: Miracle escape for children thrown from top deck... into lucky heather
Marine dies 'of heat exhaustion' on gruelling mountain hike in bid to join SBS commandos
Brown resists calls to sack Miliband the 'troublemaker'
Couple shame Bovis with internet list of dozens of faults with new �700,000 home
MOST READ IN DETAIL
EDITOR'S SIX OF THE BEST
RICHARD LITTLEJOHN: The Slop Bucket Kid for PM? The boy's a fool!
JAN MOIR: The female of the species is just as deadly as the male...introducing the Mail's brilliant new columnist
The songs that put poetry in emotion: Why Elvis tops the pops for love and Gloria Gaynor helps us survive the break-up
Pictured: getting pregnant and excercise The twisted metal of Weston-super-Mare Grand Pier after the fire
The strands of hair that may FINALLY prove the Yeti exists
Get the party started: Tonga's king prepares to celebrate... but his people are living in poverty
Back to top
Home
News
Sport
TV&Showbiz
Femail
Health
Science&Tech
You mag
Live mag
Coffee Break
Pictures
Debate
i
Sitemap | Newsletters | RSS | Text-based site | Top of page
Daily Mail | Mail on Sunday | Travel Mail | This is Network | This is London | This is Money
Metro | Loot | Jobsite | Loopy Love | Find a property | Motors | Prime location | Lasting Tribute
Part of the Daily Mail, The Mail on Sunday, Evening Standard & Metro Media Group
© 2008 Associated Newspapers Ltd
Contact us Terms Privacy policy Advertise with us
|
|
|
|
