A notorious serial rapist, known as the “Battersea Beast”, has faced opposition for the third time in his attempts to transition from a closed prison amid concerns of potential reoffending.
Edward Bartley, aged 64, earned the moniker “Battersea Beast” following a harrowing knifepoint assault. He had been released prematurely from a 20-year incarceration for preying on solitary women. Despite being approved by the Parole Board to transfer to an open prison in 2020 and subsequently in another instance two years later, both decisions were thwarted by the Justice Secretary.
The Parole Board granted Bartley permission to exit the closed prison system once again in December. However, Justice Secretary David Lammy intervened, blocking Bartley’s relocation for a third time.
A spokesperson from the Ministry of Justice emphasized the severity of Bartley’s offenses against women, stating that public safety remains paramount. Consequently, the Deputy Prime Minister rejected the Parole Board’s suggestion for Bartley’s transfer to less restrictive conditions.
Expressing distress, one of Bartley’s victims criticized the Parole Board’s repeated approval for his release, highlighting the failure to prioritize women’s safety in society. The victim emphasized the need for stricter measures against repeat rape offenders, emphasizing protection for victims over offenders within the justice system.
Another victim, assaulted by Bartley in 1989 at the age of 17, pleaded against his release, citing the terrifying impact of the assault.
Bartley’s criminal history dates back to 1992 when he received a 20-year sentence for a series of attacks on five women in Battersea, South West London. After being freed in 2004, he perpetrated another rape in South East London in 2007, leading to a life sentence with a minimum of 12 years before parole eligibility.
His criminal record also includes prior convictions for burglaries, assaults, and robbery, including a five-year imprisonment for a robbery involving the restraint of an elderly victim.
In response to the recent Parole Board decision, it was clarified that Bartley’s release was denied, but a recommendation for a transfer to an open conditions prison was made contingent upon a reduced risk to public safety deemed manageable in such a facility.