Calls for investigation after rapist attacks woman on day release
David Lammy is under pressure to launch an investigation after a convicted rapist attacked another woman while out of prison on unsupervised day release, reports BritPanorama.
Neil Trennan, 61, was serving two life sentences for violent and sexually motivated attacks when he was permitted to go out for a day in July last year. He travelled to Sheffield, where he unlawfully entered a 19-year-old woman’s home armed with a knife and attempted to rape her.
Fortunately, the woman was able to disarm Trennan and alert authorities, leading to his flight from the scene. In the aftermath, justice officials faced considerable criticism for allowing Trennan to reside in an open prison, HMP North Sea Camp, and granting him unsupervised day release despite his extensive criminal history.
Tory shadow justice secretary Nick Timothy has urged Lammy to take action regarding what he described as “terrible decisions” that resulted in Trennan’s release. Judge Jeremy Richardson, who sentenced Trennan to a third life term for this latest attack, echoed these concerns, calling for an inquiry into what he termed a grave “mistake.”
“The prison system failed in its first duty to protect the public,” said Mr. Timothy, emphasizing that someone must be held accountable for the decision that allowed Trennan to assault the young woman. He declared, “There are people too dangerous to ever be released from prison,” underscoring the need for stringent measures to safeguard the public.
Trennan’s criminal history spans decades, beginning with a life sentence in 1990 for striking a young woman with a dumbbell and subsequently raping her. After receiving day release in 2002, he again struck, attacking another woman with a brick in a college restroom, leading to a second life sentence.
Despite his admissions regarding sexual gratification from violence against women, the Parole Board moved him to open prison conditions in December 2023. On July 10, 2025, Trennan was granted a day release that ultimately led to his latest crime.
In court, Judge Richardson challenged the judgment that transferred Trennan to an open prison, remarking, “It is against this backdrop of an obvious risk of serious harm… an extremely surprising, and potentially wrong, decision that you were transferred to open prison conditions.” He expressed astonishment at the decision, insisting it was alarming that Trennan was allowed to leave unsupervised.
In response, a Ministry of Justice spokesman stated, “These were horrendous crimes and our heartfelt sympathies remain with all the victims affected. Neil Trennan has rightly received the full weight of the law for his actions.”
The spokesman acknowledged the seriousness of the situation, asserting the priority of public safety and stating that decisions regarding transfers to open conditions are made by the independent Parole Board after careful evaluation. They committed to reviewing Judge Richardson’s remarks once received to understand the incident better and explore whether existing procedures need reinforcement.
This case has reignited debates about the effectiveness of the prison system and the policies surrounding prisoner treatment, particularly concerning dangerous offenders. Questions remain regarding the current protocols and the implications for broader public safety in the future.
