Jade Belgrove, who was raped twice by a family friend at the age of 14, has expressed distress after learning that her attacker could be released early from prison under a government scheme. Belgrove reported the abuse a decade after the incidents, which led to Simon Tyler being sentenced to nine years in prison in November 2024.

Tyler, then 24, was convicted of grooming Belgrove by providing her with alcohol and cigarettes beginning at age 12, establishing a position of trust before abusing her, Belgrove said. The early release program generally allows inmates to be freed after serving half their sentence, rather than the two-thirds typically required. While Tyler was originally expected to be released in 2030, Belgrove was recently informed that he might qualify for release as early as 2028 under the scheme.

Belgrove, now 30 and based in Coventry, described receiving the notification as distressing, saying the letter she received was impersonal and left her feeling undervalued. “It made me feel like I was nothing,” she said, adding that the possibility of Tyler’s early release had stolen away critical time she had hoped to use to rebuild her life.

In response, Belgrove initiated a petition aimed at excluding violent sexual offenders from early release provisions. The petition has attracted nearly 90,000 signatures. She voiced frustration with what she perceives as delayed government action, noting that reforms were only being considered following public outcry over other high-profile cases, including that of PC Andrew Harper, a police officer killed in the line of duty.

Belgrove questioned why victims like herself were not considered in discussions earlier, saying, “I can’t help but feel that absolute kick in the gut that again we don’t matter.” She emphasized that while she recognizes the severity of cases like Harper’s, many women have been campaigning for weeks after receiving similar early release notifications, only to see their concerns overlooked until public attention increased.

The early prisoner release scheme has been controversial, with advocates urging the government to reconsider its application to individuals convicted of violent sexual offenses. Authorities have yet to announce any formal changes to the policy in response to the growing public pressure.