The ringleader of a teenage gang who shocked the nation when they brutally kicked a dad-of-three to death has been recommended for release by the Parole Board.
Gary Newlove, 47, was murdered in front of his daughter, 12, after he caught a group of youths vandalising his wife’s car whilst they were drunk and high on cannabis in 2007.
Adam Swellings, 19, Stephen Sorton, 17, and Jordan Cunliffe, 16, ganged up on the father, repeatedly kicking him in his head until he died in Warrington, Cheshire.
Over the last 17 years his grieving wife, Baroness Helen, has tirelessly campaigned for victims of anti-social behaviour to be taken more seriously.
She became Baroness Newlove in 2010 for her work in relation to youth crime and later served as the Victims’ Commissioner for England and Wales from 2012 to 2019.
All three teenagers were handed life sentences following Mr Newloves death, with Swellings, Sorton and Cunliffe receiving recommended terms of 17, 15, and 12 years.
The youngest two have since been released on parole, but Swellings - now 36 - appeared before the board last month in a bid to be freed on licence.
Last week, he was informed that the panel had recommended he be freed from prison.
Ringleader Adam Swellings, then 19 and now 36, has been recommended for release by the Parole Board
Garry Newlove was brutally murdered outside his home in front of his 12-year-old daughter in 2007
Mr Newloves widow Helen was made a peer in 2010 following her campaign work on youth crime and served as the Victims Commissioner from 2012 to 2019
A spokesperson for the Parole Board said: ‘We can confirm that a panel of the Parole Board has directed the release of Adam Swellings following an oral hearing.
‘Parole Board decisions are solely focused on what risk a prisoner could represent to the public if released and whether that risk is manageable in the community.
‘A panel will carefully examine a huge range of evidence, including details of the original crime, and any evidence of behaviour change, as well as explore the harm done and impact the crime has had on the victims.
‘Members read and digest hundreds of pages of evidence and reports in the lead up to an oral hearing.
‘Evidence from witnesses such as probation officers, psychiatrists and psychologists, officials supervising the offender in prison as well as victim personal statements may be given at the hearing.
‘It is standard for the prisoner and witnesses to be questioned at length during the hearing which often lasts a full day or more.
‘Parole reviews are undertaken thoroughly and with extreme care. Protecting the public is our number one priority.’
Two years ago the Parole Board cleared him for a move to open prison conditions but the decision was blocked by former Justice Secretary Dominic Raab.
Stephen Paul Sorton, was just 17 when he participated in the attack on the father 17 years ago
Jordan Cunliffe, one of the killers, has already been paroled
But the current Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood has limited powers to try and block Swellings release.
Although she can query the board to ensure it followed procedure, she must under parole rules abide by its decision.
If no application is made in 28 days, Swellings will be freed from behind bars early 2025.
A summary by the current three person panel who recommended his release said Swellings ‘had shown empathy towards the victims of his offending.
‘He told the panel that he had matured during his sentence and that he had been selfish at the time of the index offence.’
It also said his behaviour in prison ‘had been positive also adding that Mr Swellings had evidenced compliance’.
The board added that at the time of the crime Swellings ‘made poor decisions and had a perception that violence earned respect and acceptance.
The summary said Swellings was previously a ‘very aggressive and angry young man.’
During his court trial the jury also heard how the then-teenager binged on drinks and used skunk cannabis.
They stated that protective factors would reduce the risk of reoffending such as abstinence from drugs, controlling alcohol and avoiding antisocial friends.
The summary also noted that Swellings was supported by his family.
The 36-year-old finished minimum 17-year sentence last August, with this first parole hearing since being eligible for release.
Passers-by look at flowers left in Warrington where Mr Newlove died in Warrington Cheshire in 2007
The summary concluded that the panel were satisfied that imprisonment was no longer necessary for the protection of the public following the hearing.
It continued: ‘The panel had regard to the extremely serious nature of the index offence and that Mr Swellings’ lifestyle at the time saw him engaged in violence, drug misuse and alcohol misuse.
‘Mr Swellings was 18 at the time of the index offence and is now 36 years old. The panel found evidence of maturation, which was supported by the professionals involved in the case.
‘The panel considered there to be a strong release plan in place and it noted the support available to Mr Swellings from his family.
It added that a range of strict licence conditions had been placed on Swellings, including residing at approved accommodation, GPS tracking and regular drug testing as well as an exclusion zone.