Survivor accuses Mahmood and Streeting of 'laughing at victims'

A childhood rape survivor has accused Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood and Defence Secretary Wes Streeting of “laughing at victims” after the pair were caught on a hot mic joking about the government’s early prisoner release scheme.

Jade Belgrove, a 30-year-old mother of five, said she felt “physically sick” watching the footage. She described the remarks as a “disgusting” cheap laugh that dismisses the trauma faced by survivors

Mother-of-five Jade Belgrove, 30, accused newly appointed Defence Secretary Wes Streeting and Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood of 'laughing at victims' with their 'disgusting' jokes about the now-paused early release scheme

In the clip, recorded after the first meeting of Prime Minister Andy Burnham’s new cabinet, Streeting referred to new Justice Secretary Alex Norris as “the enemy now” and said he “wants to let them all out.” Mahmood replied that he was not, and the pair laughed. Streeting later said the comment referenced an old joke involving Theresa May and Ken Clarke.

Belgrove was groomed, drugged and raped twice at the age of 14 by Simon Tyler, a family friend then aged 24. Tyler was jailed for nine years in 2024. Under the Sentencing Act 2026, which introduces an “earned progression” model to ease severe prison overcrowding, many offenders on standard determinate sentences—including some convicted of serious sexual offences—could become eligible for release after serving half (or in some cases a third) of their term rather than the previous two-thirds. Belgrove received a generic letter, along with more than 7,000 other victims, notifying her that her attacker could walk free earlier. He lives about 10 minutes from her home.

Paedophile Simon Tyler raped Ms Belgrove twice when she was 14 after plying her with drugs and alcohol. He was jailed in 2024 and could have been let out in two years from now under the early release scheme - serving just half of his nine-year sentence

“They are laughing at what we’re having to go through,” Belgrove said. “I’m waking up every night at the moment, having panic attacks throughout the night. I am reliving the trauma that I’ve been through… and they think it’s a cheap laugh. It’s disgusting.” She rejected the ministers’ subsequent apologies as insincere, noting they appeared nearly identical.

The scheme was due to begin releasing hundreds of prisoners from September. Unlike earlier emergency measures, it contains no automatic exemptions for those convicted of serious violence, sexual offences, domestic abuse or terrorism. Victims’ groups and the Victims’ Commissioner have warned of risks to public safety and survivors.

Belgrove launched a petition calling for sex offenders and rapists to be exempted. It has attracted more than 88,000 signatures. Pressure intensified after the family of PC Andrew Harper, killed in 2019, learned that two of those involved in his death could also qualify for earlier release.

Prime Minister Andy Burnham has now 'paused the scheme' and ordered an urgent review with the Justice Secretary.

He rebuked Mahmood and Streeting for the jokes. Both ministers have apologised, insisting there was “no ill intent” and that the comments were light-hearted ribbing of the new Justice Secretary’s challenging role.

Belgrove said the pause represents progress after her campaign but expressed frustration that high-profile cases appeared to receive quicker attention than those of ordinary survivors. “For them, this is no laughing matter,” she has said of victims. “It may be a matter of life or death.”The episode has highlighted tensions between efforts to manage chronic prison overcrowding and concerns over public protection and victims’ rights under the new legislation.

Sign the petition here