Elle Edwards' furious father demands face-to-face meeting with Starmer

When Elle Edwards' killer and his accomplice were jailed last year, the beautician's father finally felt that justice had been served.

Tim Edwards, surrounded by his family, punched his fist to the air and said 'we've finally got justice for Elle' as they stepped out of court following the four-week trial.

The gunman, Connor Chapman, now 24, was sentenced to a minimum term of 48 years behind bars for shooting the 26-year-old at a pub in Wallasey, Merseyside, on Christmas Eve 2022.

His co-defendant, Thomas Waring, now 21, who helped the killer hide the weapon and burn down his getaway car was handed a nine-year sentence.

Standing outside the Liverpool Crown Court last July, Mr Edwards, 53, said he hoped the two cowardly criminals would 'rot in hell' and 'never see another Christmas again'.

Yet as the second anniversary of his daughter's death approaches, Mr Edwards was left 'shocked and angry' to receive an 'emotionless' letter in the post that Waring could be released early due to overcrowding in prisons.

Instead of serving his full sentence, Waring may be allowed to walk free having served just two years and nine months in jail as Sir Keir Starmer's Government continues to plough on with its controversial early release scheme.

'If you can release someone potentially a year and a half earlier than planned for being involved in a murder, what kind of message does this send out?,' Mr Edwards told MailOnline.

'It is really not good and I am going to do my very best to make sure that it does not happen in our case.'

Mr Edwards said his family had received a 'cold letter' with 'no emotion' from a victim liason officer working for the Ministry of Justice, informing them of the possibility of Waring's release, in what he believes makes a 'mockery of the sentencing'.

'They just seem to be crunching numbers. They are just trying to make their numbers fit. I know the prison services have needs but this is not the answer. The answer is to build more prisons and not take people out of prisons,' Mr Edwards said.

Figures from earlier this year had shown that more than half of the prisoners released early in the first six months of 2024 ended up reoffending, which the grieving father said proves the scheme simply will not work in the long run.

'It doesn't work,' Mr Edwards added. 'If people are sent to prison they are supposed to be rehabilitated while in prison. But people are not being fully rehabilitated because they are being released early, so the likelihood is that they are going to reoffend - and that has proven to be the case.

'It is going to get to the point - and it's probably already happened - that someone has been released and reoffended but it will be a step up from their previous crimes.

'People could end up getting involved in another murder, more violence or even sexual offences or domestic abuse.'

It led Mr Edwards to write directly to the Prime Minister to demand answers, questioning how it is right that Waring could be 'basically put in the same class as a shoplifter'.

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Family's fury as gangster who helped kill Elle Edwards could be released early

'I started a foundation in Elle's name to discourage kids from joining gangs,' he added. 'But it feels like the government is trying to undermine this by failing to punish serious criminals.'

Determined to make sure Waring serves the full length of his sentence Mr Edwards, with the support of his local MP Angela Eagle, is hoping to speak face-to-face with the Prime Minister about reversing his scheme.

He is yet to hear back from the PM's office or the Ministry of Justice on what can be done to prevent the release of Waring, who Mr Edwards already thought should have been given a tougher sentence.

'I'm angry. I've kept calm and cool and been very dignified for the last two years, but this has really boiled me. I'm sick and tired of being dignified, I want action,' Mr Edwards said last week. 'As far as I'm concerned, he should be in prison for ten or 15 years.'

To this day the submachine gun used to kill Miss Edwards, later hidden by Waring, has never been found.

Chapman opened fire shortly before midnight, tragically murdering Miss Edwards and injuring five others, in the culmination of a gang feud.

The killer then drove the stolen Mercedes to Waring's home who destoryed the car and concealed the still missing weapon.

Waring was convicted of possessing a prohibited weapon and assisting an offender, while Chapman was handed 48 years for murder.