PC John Dougal 'will get easy ride'

May 3 2009 by Katy Simpson, Sunday Sun

“He will not be put with sex offenders. Open prisons can include robbers and armed robbers. It is going to be a difficult situation.

“We will evaluate what is suitable for him in relation to his sentence. He is in prison because he has broken the law, but it depends on the individual where they go.”

Dougal’s barrister John Elvidge told in court how Dougal has already faced hostility in prison and, in sentencing, Judge David Hodson said: “I have regard to the difficulties he will have as a former police officer in custody.”

However, Hayley’s heartbroken sister Sarah Ridley, 33, of Scotswood, Newcastle, fears Dougal’s time behind bars will not be the punishment she feels he deserves.

Sarah said: “He will only serve half automatically, but then he could only serve two-thirds of that on good behaviour, and then he can stay at home with a tag.

“I would hate to think he will just get home visits after a couple of months, like weekend visits or day release.

“It is supposed to be a punishment. Even getting moved to an open prison is bad enough. He will get an easier ride than most prisoners.

“Yes, he is a police officer, but he has resigned now, so he should be treated like a normal person. The night he killed my sister, he lost all entitlement to be a police officer.”

Meanwhile, road safety campaigners have called for tougher sentences in cases such as Dougal’s.

A Northumbria Police spokesman added: “We acknowledge the decision of the court, and also the concerns made by the judge, in particular that this was a tragedy for everyone concerned.”