Yahoo News Mother held at gunpoint 'left in dark' over ex-boyfriend's early release
Rhiannon Bragg was held hostage by Gareth Wyn Jones after she ended their relationship in 2019.
A mother-of-four who was held at gunpoint by her stalker ex-boyfriend claims she hasn't been made aware of his parole conditions ahead of his imminent release.
Rhiannon Bragg was held hostage by Gareth Wyn Jones, 59, after she ended their relationship in 2019. Jones was handed a four-and-a-half-year jail term – he was due for automatic release on Friday and is now scheduled for release on Thursday. Bragg told ITV's Good Morning Britain that she had been left "shaken, furious, shocked and triggered to be told at the last minute that he is being released a day early".
A Parole Board panel found last year that it would not be safe to release Jones and he had never accepted blame for his crimes.
Bragg, 51, has repeatedly criticised the decision to allow him out and has now said she has been left in the dark over his parole conditions. "It seems to be the most massive error on their part that even though I've engaged, I still haven't been told the correct release date," she told the BBC.
Jones began harassing Bragg, from Snowdonia in north Wales, and her children when she ended their five-year relationship. She reported Jones to the police a number of times, and he was arrested three times and had his legally-held guns taken away, but no further action was taken and his firearms were returned.
Prosecutors later admitted they could have charged Jones with harassment three months earlier before endured her gunpoint ordeal. He is now set to be released on Friday.
Bragg, a domestic abuse campaigner, said: "It's really important they (audience) know how deeply victims are impacted by these offenders and perpetrators.
"I'm really fortunate to be under the care of a psychologist. The larger part of Friday was taken up with a session with the psychologist in order to be supported and work through a day when no one is quite sure how I'll be. Particularly now not being aware of the [licence] conditions I think I should be aware of."
Safeguarding minister Laura Farris said the government could not determine how long a prisoner is detained. She added that when Jones is released there will be a 21-day conditional period where Bragg can challenge the parole conditions that the Parole Board can review.
Yahoo News has contacted the Ministry of Justice for comment.
Not safe for release
A summary of the Parole Board panel's decision on Jones found that he had held "traditional beliefs around gender roles in relationships and evidenced jealousy and a sense of entitlement", while struggling to manage conflict.
It found that he saw asking for help as a sign of weakness, and noted that there were emotional and mental health difficulties in this case. A release plan where Jones would live in designated accommodation with strict limits on his contacts, movements and activities was not deemed robust enough.
The panel concluded: "After considering the circumstances of his offending, the progress made while in custody and the evidence presented in the dossier, the panel was not satisfied that release at this point would be safe for the protection of the public." Jones was given an extended determinate sentence, where an offender receives a fixed jail term and an extended five-year period on licence after their release.
These cases are usually considered by the Parole Board around two-thirds into the prison sentence, in this case 18 months before release, but the process of gathering reports, speaking to witnesses, carrying out a paper review and then scheduling an oral hearing, which ultimately only took written evidence, took 15 months.
What to do if you think you are being stalked
The Suzy Lamplugh Trust website has some overall tips and advice for those who suspect they are being stalked:
Do not engage with your stalker in any way
Talk to family, friends, neighbours, colleagues or your manager about the harassment if you feel comfortable doing so. They may be able to help by collecting further evidence on your behalf or by putting protective measures in place
Be aware of how much of your personal information is in the public domain and take steps to protect your data
Above everything, trust your instincts.
What to do if you are being physically stalked
The Suzy Lamplugh Trust recommends the following:
Consider carrying a personal alarm
Vary your daily routine and take different routes to and from work
Know where the nearest safe location is, for instance a police station. But, if there isn't one nearby, you could use a 24-hour supermarket with security guards and CCTV
Talk to the police about using CCTV and/or installing a panic button at your home
Consider installing an alarm system
Ensure all your doors and windows are locked before you leave home or go to sleep.
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Safe spaces for women and girls trialled in UK seaside town (Yahoo Life UK, 8-min read)
