Burnham spitting in our faces by freeing killers, says Harper friend

By the Editorial Team · Tuesday, August 11, 2026

A former colleague of Pc Andrew Harper has condemned the government’s decision to allow early release of two men convicted in connection with the officer’s death, calling it a disrespect to police officers. The early release of Jesse Cole and Albert Bowers, who were sentenced to 13 years for manslaughter but face serving about half, raises concerns over how to balance justice for fallen officers with legal complexities in parole decisions.

A former colleague of Pc Andrew Harper has criticized the government for its refusal to prevent the early release of two men convicted in connection with the officer's death, describing the decision as a disrespect to police officers. Pc Harper, 28, died in August 2019 after being dragged behind a quad bike driven by a group of teenagers involved in a theft in Berkshire.

Chris Bushnell, who attempted to pursue the suspects as they fled the scene and witnessed the incident, expressed deep distress over the impending release of Jesse Cole and Albert Bowers. Both men, now 18, were sentenced to 13 years in prison for their involvement in the manslaughter of Pc Harper but are expected to be released after serving approximately half of their sentences. The seventh anniversary of Pc Harper’s death falls on August 15.

Speaking publicly for the first time since the trial, Bushnell, who retired from Thames Valley Police in 2022, said he was shaken and angered by the prospect of the early release. “It brought everything back,” he said. He described the sentences as “pretty pitiful” and said the government’s approach to the release was a “spitting in the face” to police officers who put their lives at risk while on duty.

The Prime Minister is reportedly exploring options to prevent Cole and Bowers from being released early, but officials have indicated that selectively excluding individual offenders from release is complex. A spokesperson for Bushnell explained that specific exemptions would require identifying particular offenses within the group, which is not feasible in this case, especially given that the manslaughter charge applies to both.

Bushnell emphasized the wider implications of the decision, saying it undermines the sacrifices of other officers who have lost colleagues in violent incidents. “This belittles them. It makes them feel worthless,” he stated. He urged the government to ensure that Pc Harper’s killers serve their full sentences as a minimum show of respect for the officer’s service and ultimate sacrifice.

This article was reported by synthesizing coverage from multiple independent news outlets to present a balanced, unbiased account. Read about our editorial standards. Spotted an error? Let us know.