News about Terry Matthews

An arsonist who set fire to his neighbour's car has criticised Sir Keir Starmer for releasing him and other prisoners early, claiming they are being 'set up to fail'. Terry Matthews was jailed for a year in March after destroying the vehicle in 'revenge' after a row with the victim's partner over allegedly faulty repairs to father's van which cost £7,000. The father-of-one walked out of HMP Nottingham yesterday, a week before he was originally due to be given his freedom, but admits he and other inmates probably 'shouldn't be released'. The 44-year-old said he had already run into problems after not being given accommodation on his release and said the way it was being organised was making it 'impossible' to make a success of it. He is one of 1,700 inmates being released this week under the government's plans to combat prison overcrowding, despite concerns that up to half of those set free could end up reoffending.