Armed kidnapper spoke with knife-wielding pal hours after jail release

An armed kidnapper who called out 'Big up Keir Starmer' when freed from prison early celebrated with a Nando's, buying a new pair of £200 Nike trainers and chatted to a pal who chillingly posed with a knife.

Daniel Dowling-Brooks posed on a brand new £150,000 Bentley outside HMP Swaleside in Kent yesterday as he was one of 1,200 convicts freed early.

The 29-year-old father-of-two vowed to keep himself out of trouble after admitting he had been jailed for seven years for kidnapping a man at knifepoint and GBH.

But a disturbing photo shows him on a video call with a pal just hours after his release with the friend smiling and holding up a knife to the camera.

Dowling-Brooks screenshotted the video call and posted it on his Instagram. He has since deleted the photo, which could be a breach of his licensing conditions.

The Ministry of Justice is now facing calls to recall the thug and send him back to prison.

The photo was one of a series showing what he is up to in the hours after being released and had the caption '3 Tommy'.

The heavily-tattooed pal is directly holding the knife to the camera while on the call.

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A female friend is behind Dowling-Brooks in the car and appears to be filming the call.

It has also emerged he appears to have been on social media during his time in jail, updating his open Facebook profile.

Other Instagram posts in the hours after his release shows him celebrating in a Nandos restaurant with friends.

He also posted a video of his GPS tag he will have to wear as part of a curfew. And he has posed selfies topless looking in a mirror with the caption: 'Little tone up on the belly n we lit.'

There was also a photo of the brand new Nike Air Force trainers he had purchased. 

He also shared photos of the media coverage surrounding his release.

One friend said: 'He wants to be famous. He is absolutely loving the attention. He is trying to make the system look as ridiculous as possible.'

A source said: 'This is a disgraceful situation. This thug has laughed in the face of justice. He claims to be a new person and turned over a new leaf.

'But there he is on a video call with a friend holding a knife. It is a menacing photograph.

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'Is that the actions of a man rehabilitated that he has screenshot that and posted it on social media?

'It could be interpreted as a threat. The Ministry of Justice should act and put him back behind bars.'

More than 1,200 convicts who have served 40 per cent of their sentences are being freed under a scheme to tackle prison overcrowding, following on from 1,750 who were released last month.

Many of those being released lavished praise on the Prime Minister for letting them out early, despite Sir Keir saying he 'shares the public's anger' at such celebrations.

Brooks gave 'thumbs up' signs and waves as he posed by a Bentley outside HMP Swaleside in Kent after being released on Tuesday. 

Dowling-Brooks said, 'I love my life', as he posed on the car and also next to a Mercedes G Wagon, priced at £100,000.

He said: 'I'm a dad of two so I'm out now and I'm very happy. I'm going to be good.'

The 29-year-old father-of-two was also open about the violent crimes for which he was put behind bars in the first place - though vowed he would turn over a new leaf.

Talking about his crimes, he revealed: 'I kidnapped someone who owed by friend money. I tied him up and had him at gunpoint. I beat him up.

'It was bad but not as bad as they made out. I'm so sorry for it though. I'm changed. 

'Big up Keir Starmer, I am delighted to be released early. I am delighted.

'I can't wait to go McDonald's. That's where we're all going now. I'm free and can go wherever I want now. It's amazing. I could not believe they are letting me out this early. I've got my girl with me.

His mother Sarah Dowling-Brooks, who had been waiting for him, insisted: 'He's going to be good now. He has done his time. I'm so happy he is home.'

Photographs from his public Facebook page show him posing both inside and outside, including some which appear to be in front of prison cell doors - prompting comments in response about him being behind bars.

Posts in reply have included 'Man rolling wid that fridge outside the cell' and 'remember make the time work for YOU learn and better urself'. 

He had been updating his profile pictures despite previously being given a seven-year prison sentence for kidnapping and GBH - the most recent change coming in February this year.

Hundreds of prisoners have been greeted by family members and high-end supercars including Lamborghinis, Rolls-Royces and Bentleys as they walked out.

A convicted money launderer's family arrived in a Lamborghini to greet him at HNPO Wandsworth in south London, while others were taken home in Rolls Royces.

And a convicted drug dealer freed from HMP Holme House in Teesside told how he was had 'a couple of girls who I might go and see', after being 'flat out on spice for two and half years', adding: I've come out skinnier than when I went in.'

About 25 prisoners were seen being released from HMP Ford in West Sussex, where cars arriving at the jail included a £350,000 white Rolls Royce Cullinan.

When the car travelled away from the prison and the driver was asked by the Sun who the passenger in the back was, he joked: 'The Pope.'

Various inmates have been vocal in their gratitude towards Sir Keir and his Labour government which took power in July this year. 

Another prisoner thanked the PM as he was released from HMP Thameside in south London after serving less than a third of his sentence.

The inmate, who refused to give his name, spent just three months of his 10-month sentence for theft by false representation at the Category B jail.

Pumping his fist as he left the gate, he said: 'I'm coming out early - thank you, Keir Starmer! I'm a Labour voter, I think they're going to be a lot better for us.'

He said he was going straight home to see his children.