78 Year Old Grandmother "Unlawfully at Large" According to Prison Authorities
On Friday Gaie was told 20 days was being added to her already 20 month prison sentence.
The reason? For being "unlawfully at large" during the days the tagging company claimed her wrists were too… pic.twitter.com/F3Sk5H48ot
— Just Stop Oil (@JustStop_Oil) January 25, 2025
Gaie Delap, a 78-year-old retired teacher and climate protester from Bristol, has had her prison sentence extended by 20 days. This extension comes after authorities were unable to find a tracking bracelet that fitted her wrists. Delap was initially sentenced to 20 months in prison for her involvement in climate protests with the Just Stop Oil movement.
She was released in November to complete her sentence under house arrest. However, Delap was recalled to prison when no appropriate tracking device could be found to monitor her. She suffers from a medical condition that prevents her from using a conventional ankle bracelet.
“Twenty-five organisations and researchers have written to the justice secretary, calling on her to use her discretionary powers to revoke Delap’s recall, find a suitable tag for her to wear, and launch an inquiry into the systemic failures”https://t.co/HbWgNmd5sJ
— Good Law Project (@GoodLawProject) January 25, 2025
The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) stated that none of the existing tracking devices available fit Delap’s wrist. Her sentence was extended because she did not return to custody when recalled on 29 November. Family and friends of Delap have criticized the decision to extend her sentence.
The government failures which recalled Gaie Delap to prison have now been used to justify extending her sentence.
We’re joining her family and a groundswell of legal and prison reform charities to demand immediate action from Shabana Mahmood:https://t.co/jRN3P5UooJ
— Good Law Project (@GoodLawProject) January 25, 2025
If the tag doesn’t fit… An absurd, mindless & cruel decision. Scarcely believable in 21st century UK. Or all too believable? #gaiedelap https://t.co/XE7s70YN4Y
— Michael Sadgrove 🇪🇺 (@MichaelSadgrove) January 25, 2025
Calls to review Delap’s prison recall
They have written an open letter to the Justice Secretary, Shabana Mahmood, urging her to review the case. Another letter, co-signed by 25 women’s rights and penal reform charities, also calls for an investigation into Delap’s case.
Her brother, Mick Delap, questioned why it has been impossible to fit her with a monitoring device. Mike Campbell, a family friend, expressed concerns about the fairness and proportionality of the criminal justice system in Delap’s case. He argued that the system failed to uphold the respect for human dignity.
The Ministry of Justice told the BBC, “We are bound by law to enforce sentences passed down by the independent judiciary, this includes handing down additional days in custody when the law dictates.”
Delap was expected to leave prison on 17 March but is now anticipated to be released on 7 April. The news of her extended sentence comes just days after the prisons minister, James Timpson, said he wants to reduce the number of women imprisoned. Twenty-five legal, women’s, and prison reform organisations have written to the justice secretary, urging her to revoke Delap’s recall and find a suitable tag for her.
They argue that her recall serves no purpose other than to exacerbate the punitive aspects of her sentence. Delap’s solicitor, Raj Chada, criticized the development, saying, “To further punish a 78-year-old woman for the incompetencies of the state is disgraceful.” MoJ sources added that no alternative tag available would enable her to be released on home detention curfew.
Noah Nguyen is a multi-talented developer who brings a unique perspective to his craft. Initially a creative writing professor, he turned to Dev work for the ability to work remotely. He now lives in Seattle, spending time hiking and drinking craft beer with his fiancee.
