JOHN PALMER FROM BASELIDON DEMANDS £50K IN COMPENSATION OVER PRISON TREATMENT

In a highly unusual legal move, John Palmer, a convicted criminal from Basildon, Essex, is seeking a substantial sum of £50,000 in compensation, claiming that his human rights have been violated during his time in custody. Palmer, aged 57, has a long and notorious criminal history that includes violent assaults, robbery, and sexual offenses involving minors.

Palmer’s criminal record is extensive. He was originally sentenced to life imprisonment in 1967 after being convicted of grievous bodily harm (GBH). He was released on license in 1976 but continued to engage in criminal activities. Notably, in 1980, he was imprisoned again for a robbery during which he assaulted an elderly shopkeeper with a sledgehammer. During this incident, he was accompanied by a 13-year-old girl, with whom he was later convicted of having sex, adding to his list of offenses.

He was released from prison in 1996 but was returned the following year, and then again released on license in 1998. His latest incarceration began after he was accused of breaching parole conditions in 2001. Palmer claims that he was unlawfully sent back to prison for a year in that year, asserting that the police fabricated evidence to justify his re-imprisonment. Specifically, he alleges that he was accused of violating parole restrictions by staying overnight at his girlfriend’s house, a claim he vehemently denies.

Palmer insists that he did not stay overnight at his girlfriend’s residence and argues that he was not given the proper parole review he was entitled to after three months of incarceration. He contends that there was no evidence supporting the police’s assertion that he had stayed overnight, and criticizes the authorities for simply returning him to prison without due process. “There was no evidence supporting the police claim that I stayed at nights,” he said. “But because I had already been in prison, they just sent me right back inside. Why on earth would I tell a police officer I had been staying over? That’s just stupid. I mean, if you’ve just committed a burglary, you don’t rush out and tell a policeman, do you?”

Palmer’s criminal history also includes a period of freedom following his release in 1996, but he was re-incarcerated in 1997. He was again released on license in 1998 and remained free until 2001, when he was accused of breaching his parole restrictions. Despite his legal battles, Palmer has refused to disclose further details about his convictions, only stating, “I have made terrible mistakes, but I’ve paid for them.”

He claims that his current legal action is driven by a desire for acknowledgment rather than financial gain. “My argument is that I did not do anything wrong but was sent back to prison anyway,” he explained. “My solicitors have told me I have an 88 percent chance of success with my claim.” Palmer also revealed that he is seeking an apology from the Home Office and the Parole Board, emphasizing that “the money is irrelevant.”

The case has attracted attention, especially following a recent report by The Sun that revealed another inmate, John Duggan, was demanding interest on funds held in his prison account. A Prison Service spokesperson confirmed that they are aware of Palmer’s claim and stated, “Our solicitors will be examining the papers.” The outcome of Palmer’s legal challenge could have significant implications for the rights of prisoners and the accountability of the justice system in the UK.