A mother who was abused by her 'controlling' boyfriend told about her anger yesterday after he was released for only three months in a three-year prison sentence-because of 'overpopulation in prison'.
Hayley Johns, 38, said she was staggering to be told only six weeks after Matthew Kowal was sent that he had already been reserved for release.
She said that Kowal, 34, Thursday ran for free and that she now lives in fear with multiple alarms and camera systems installed at her home.
Mrs Johns, who runs her own nail salon, said: 'It's frightening. I just feel that as a victim I am absolutely invisible, while he comes out of prison and goes further to the next victim – because that is what he will do. '
She said that her victim connection officer gave the news that Kowal was released in a face-to-face meeting, and added: “I was told that it was decided to release him because HMP Nottingham was full. I couldn't believe it.
'I am completely and completely abandoned … How can someone be imprisoned for three years for what he has done to me in less than three months on the license?
'Now I have bolts over the front door, window alarms, cameras and everything else. I have an eight -year -old daughter and I tried to protect her from this, but she keeps asking why we suddenly have all these locks and I no longer have things to tell her. '
Kowal was found guilty in November of one counting of causing actual physical injury and one of the common abuse that had previously allowed two counts of ABH.
Hayley Johns (photo), 38, said she was spread to be told only six weeks after Matthew Kowal was sent that he had already been reserved for release
Kowal was found guilty in November of one census of causing actual physical injury and one of the common abuse that had previously permitted two counts of ABH and was sentenced to three years in prison and handed a 10-year limited order to Derby Crown Court
Mrs. Johns with Kowal. Because he walked for free on Thursday and Mrs. Johns now lives in fear with several alarms and camera systems installed at her home
He was sentenced to three years in prison and handed a 10 -year limitation to Derby Crown Court on 29 November, but Mrs. Johns told MailOnline that she was called in the mid -last month and said that he would be released on 4 February. In the event he was released a little more than a week later.
Mrs. Johns said she contacted her MP, Jonathan Davies, who escalated the case for protecting Minister Jess Phillips and the justice secretary Shabana Mahmood.
She added: “Jess Phillips replied to check if I had received enough security measures such as extra security locks and cameras, but I still have to hear something from the secretary of justice,” Mrs Johns added.
Three mother said she was talking about her situation to warn other women about the danger that Kowal can shape them, although she was “completely abandoned.”
Mrs. Johns said she met Kowal five years ago during the Pandemie, when she took a job as a courier at a company where he already worked in the depot.
“He was incredibly charming in the beginning and we had a whirlwind romantic,” she added. But within nine months, she said, Kowal's dark side arose.
On New Year's Eve 2020, she confronted him with photos that he had sent from himself to another woman.
“That night he just went so from zero to 100 and started attacking me,” she said.
Mrs. Johns said she met Kowal five years ago during the pandemic, when she took a job as a courier at a company where he already worked in the depot
Mrs. Johns said she contacted her MP, Jonathan Davies (photo), who escalated the case for protecting minister Jess Phillips and the justice secretary Shabana Mahmood
“Nothing as this had happened before, I don't know where it came from, it was like an explosion.” But he just reached and said sorry and because it had never happened before. I took what he said on nominal value and just continued the relationship.
“Mrs Johns said after that first incident that she decided to take him back when he apologized and assured her it would not happen again.
'But in the next three years to March 2024 there were a number of other episodes of violence – including Kowal Smashing Glass and flying in anger in a bedroom.
“He said again that he regrets him and he would get help and so I withdrew my statement. From that moment on I just kept taking him back because social services became involved and I was afraid that I would lose my children. I also wanted to help him and what demons he had.
'I started my own nail company, which started, but he would belittle it. I don't think he liked that I had some independence. '
Mrs. Johns said that the last drop came into her relationship after an incident in March last year when he barricaded her in the bedroom and tried to climb out to escape and end up in the hospital.
She said, “Then I knew he had total control over me and every choice I made and I thought if I didn't report this, he will eventually kill me.”
Kowal, from Mackworth, Derbyshire, was taken into custody in May.
It is understood that Kowal benefited from a double conviction discount after he was asked early under a house detention evening schedule – after he also qualified for the SDS40 of the Labor Government SDS40 (Standard defelinate sin 40) for the over -population of the prison on to grab.
According to the scheme, prisoners may be eligible for early release after completing 40 percent of their punishment, instead of the usual 50 percent. But although perpetrators who have been convicted of domestic violence must be exempt from early release, some abusers accused of more general violations such as common attack, such as Kowal, remain eligible.
In December, the Liberal -Democrat -Member Josh Babarinde submitted a bill to close this Maas in the law by creating a specific series of domestic violence, aggravated offenses in the law.
Mrs. Johns said that the last drop came into her relationship after an incident in March last year when he barricaded her in the bedroom and tried to climb out to escape and end up in the hospital
Mr Babarinde, the party's spokesperson, said about Mrs Johns 'experience at the time of the legal system:' It is a national scandal that our system currently leaves survivors like Hayley without the justice they deserve.
“That is why the liberal Democrats have called on the government to urgently create a series of domestic violence, worsened offenses in the law, so that victims and survivors are well protected and respected.”
The MOJ said that Kowal would have been released with strict license conditions, including an electronically controlled evening clock that limits its movements.
A spokesperson said: 'Everyone who has been released in a house cloth for house detention is confronted with strict license conditions and must be tagged. Those who violate the rules are confronted with return in custody. '
Prisoners released via house detention evening clock are also subject to risk assessment.
Mr. Davies, The Labor MP for Mid Derbeshire, and a spokesperson for MS Mahmood were contacted for comment.
