An offender with a history of knife-related offences has been convicted of murdering a mother of two shortly after being released early from prison under a previous government policy. Robert Sabat, 59, pleaded guilty last month to the murder of 42-year-old Dickiesa Nurse, who was killed at her home in Brixton, South London. He is scheduled to be sentenced this week at the Old Bailey.

Sabat was originally jailed in May 2025 for 12 months for knife possession and harassment. However, he was released after serving just 40 percent of his sentence under a scheme introduced before the current administration, which allowed some offenders to be freed early to ease prison overcrowding. Five months after his release, he murdered Nurse.

The case has prompted a review by the Probation Service into how Sabat was able to commit the crime while out on parole. Justice Secretary Alex Norris has asserted that safeguards are in place to protect potential victims, but critics question their effectiveness in this instance. Victims’ Commissioner Claire Waxman emphasized the need for greater resources for the Probation Service, warning that what began as a prison capacity crisis could escalate into a serious public safety concern.

The Ministry of Justice responded by affirming its commitment to maintaining sufficient prison capacity to keep dangerous offenders incarcerated. The service said it is determined to ensure that prison places are available to prevent similar incidents in the future. The review aims to identify any gaps in supervision or risk assessment that may have contributed to Sabat’s early release and subsequent actions.