Leeds criminal slams early release and tells judge his sentence is 'not long enough'
He said new one-third rule would not help him
An armed robber jailed at Leeds Crown Court told the judge his sentence was not long enough, requesting for more time behind bars.
Daniel Heany was handed a sentence of four years and six months for a series of violent incidents, but left the court stunned after his unusual request.
The 31-year-old appeared in court over a video link from HMP Leeds, where he was being held on remand, and criticised the new relaxed laws regarding offenders only having to serve a third of their sentence.
The change was implemented at the start of the month in a bid to free up much-needed space in overcrowded prisons.
As a result, Heany quickly calculated that he may only serve 18 months, and said that he wanted more time to be rehabilitated.
He said he was stuck in a cycle of drugs, crime, being sentenced to prison and then released without help or accomodation, so returns to drugs and crime. He said he is desperate to break that cycle.
Addressing the judge he said: “Can it be longer? This is not going to do owt [sic] for me.
“I will do the 33% and just go out and do exactly the same thing again. I need a bit longer.
“It’s rare I would ask for this. I want to succeed but four-and-a-half years is just not long enough.”
Surprised, Judge Howard Crowson considered the request then added an extra month, taking into account extra offences not initially put to the defendant.
But he told him the release date was “not my decision,” and that he followed the sentencing guidelines.
He added: “For most people it would have been regarded as a long enough sentence. It is certainly the longest sentence you have served.
“How long you will spend in custody is not my decision I’m afraid.”
He added that he would “not feel comfortable” handing out a longer sentence.
Heany had admitted three robberies of shops in the Leeds area, including a Greggs, Heron Foods and a Morrisons Daily.
He had also burgled a restaurant in Leeds city centre and disgustingly defecated on their floor. He also admitted 21 offences of shop theft.
The court was heard he had a long-standing crack addiction.