Man jailed for two years 'has spent half life in prison*

A prisoner has spent more than half of his life in jail for starting a fire in the attic of an empty building aged 17 under an abolished indefinite jail term.

- AMY-CLARE MARTIN

Liam Bennett, now 36, told The Independent “I deserve my chance” at freedom, adding that he still dreams of a normal life as he languishes without a release date.

He was handed a controversial imprisonment for public protection (IPP) sentence in 2006 following the blaze, which caused £3,000 of damage but left no one hurt.

He was told he must serve a minimum of two years and 82 days for arson but is still trapped almost two decades later until a parole board deems him safe for release.

Speaking out as politicians prepare to debate whether more than 2,600 prisoners should be resentenced, Mr Bennett insisted: “I have changed so much in 18 years, I have learnt so much, I’m confident I will take my chance with release and run with it.”

Inside HMP Ranby, Nottinghamshire, his weight has plummeted to 9 stone despite being 6ft 3in. He has sometimes turned to drugs to cope with the possibility of never being released – especially following a recent parole knockback.

He said he is faced with daily instances of violence, widespread drug use and fights on his wing at the category C men’s prison.

“I have been in prison now for nearly 18 years off a two-year tariff, I deserve my chance of release,” he said. “How can it be fair to not have a release date?”