Sexual abuse survivor who was drugged and raped as a child condemns Labour as she fears prison cuts could see her attacker released early

A sexual abuse survivor who was drugged and raped by a family friend as a teenager has condemned the Labour Party, fearing that proposed prison reforms could lead to the early release of her attacker. Jade Belgrove, 30, from Coventry, revealed that she received a generic letter from the Ministry of Justice indicating that her former abuser, Simon Tyler, might be freed from prison before completing his full nine-year sentence. Belgrove was 14 years old when she was groomed, drugged, and raped twice by Tyler in 2010. The first incident occurred at her family home, where Tyler lured her with alcohol and drugs, leaving her unconscious on the sofa while her father and stepmother slept upstairs. She awoke to find herself being raped. Months later, during a family trip to Wales, Tyler raped her again in a bedroom shared with her 13-year-old cousin. During that attack, he took advantage of the cousin’s intoxication to assault Belgrove. Tyler was convicted and sentenced to nine years in prison in 2024. Earlier this year, Belgrove received a letter from the Ministry of Justice stating that prisoners serving a minimum of two-thirds of their sentence, such as Tyler, could have their terms shortened to half. This follows the passage of the Sentencing Act 2026, which aims to reduce prison overcrowding by allowing early releases. Belgrove, who has waived her legal right to remain anonymous, has launched a petition calling for sex offenders to be excluded from the early release scheme. To date, the petition has garnered over 64,000 signatures. She expressed frustration that Labour, the party responsible for the policy, has not engaged with her directly, despite her efforts to raise concerns. “I don’t think Labour is listening,” Belgrove said. “They’re too focused on fighting the Conservatives and playing tit-for-tat, rather than actually fighting for the people of this country.” Belgrove met with several senior Conservative MPs, including Kemi Badenoch, to discuss the issue, but was unable to speak with any prominent Labour figures. She described the letter she received as “completely generic” and “disgusting.” It left her feeling “broken” and terrified, though she resolved to fight against the possibility of her attacker’s early release. “This is not just about me,” she said. “It’s about the safety of my family and all future victims. If we allow these predators to walk free, the cycle of abuse will continue.” The Ministry of Justice stated that offenders deemed the most dangerous by judges, primarily those serving life sentences, are automatically excluded from early release. However, it is unclear whether Tyler falls into this category. A spokesperson confirmed that the government is still assessing the extent of sentence reductions, with a final decision expected by late August. Belgrove emphasized that Tyler is one of many offenders whose sentences could be affected by the new rules. She warned that releasing individuals like Tyler would send a dangerous message, encouraging others to commit similar crimes. “I’m not asking for revenge,” she said. “I’m asking for justice. I want to ensure that survivors like me are protected, and that perpetrators are held accountable for their actions.”