Queen intervenes to cut sentence of convicted killer who restrained London Bridge attacker

A convicted murderer who helped to stop the London Bridge terror attack last November will have his sentence cut after the Queen intervened.

Steven Gallant, 42, was on day release at an event for reformed prisoners in Fishmongers' Hall when Usman Khan began his attack.

Gallant, armed only with a Narwhal tusk, helped to restrain Khan, who was wearing a fake suicide vest and was armed with two knives.

Khan was shot dead by police but not before he had killed Jack Merritt, 25, and 23-year-old Saskia Jones - both part of the Learning Together scheme to help prisoners access education.

Several other people were injured.

Gallant had been out on licence after being jailed for life in 2005 with a minimum term of 17 years after being one of two men who murdered firefighter Barrie Jackson, 33, in Hull.

The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) said the Queen had employed the little used "Royal Prerogative of Mercy" to bring Gallant's case before the parole board 10 months early.

The monarch used the power on the advice of Lord Chancellor Robert Buckland.

An MoJ spokesman said: "The Lord Chancellor has granted Steven Gallant a Royal Prerogative of Mercy reducing his minimum tariff of 10 months in recognition of his exceptionally brave actions at Fishmongers' Hall, which helped save people's lives despite the tremendous risk to his own."

The parole board has the final decision, but it is unlikely Gallant will be denied his freedom.

It has been reported that he has expressed remorse for the murder of Mr Jackson, who was beaten to death outside a pub.

He has not faced any loss of privileges for the past 10 years, has addressed previous substance abuse, and is studying for a business degree.

Jack Merritt's father David, 55, said Gallant "fully deserves this pardon, or reduction in sentence".

He told the Sunday Mirror: "It is fantastic. He was very close to Jack and he turned his life around and reformed. I am really pleased for him."