Ben's solicitor called me today with the news - Ben is coming home!
The prison had not even told him so he heard it from me this evening. He asked me to put the fantastic news on the blog along with a couple of strange/interesting facts: he cannot go until he has handed in his pillow(!) and when he comes home he will not officially exist. Why? Because, having been imprisoned since the age of 14 he has not got a National Insurance number.
As you can imagine, he is over the moon, but we both agreed we need to sleep on it so the news really sinks in...
Ed
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Congratulations! I'll now look forward to reading 'Ben's No longer in Prison Blog' to find out how you get along permanently on the outside!
ReplyDeleteAgain, congrats, and best wishes.
Brilliant news! Don't 'lose' your pillow!
ReplyDeletesending you and Ben all our love and best wishes from Prisoners Families Voices x
ReplyDeleteYay ! When does he get out ? How did you get to know before him ?
ReplyDeleteCongratulations Ben!
ReplyDeleteDon't forget us when you get out -.o;
I got to hear before him because Sudbury are obviously in no hurry to pass on the good news. I was told this morning but didn't want to put it on the blog until Ben know. Best he heard it from me or from the prison than to hear from someone else that they had read it on the blog! His solicitor informed the prison early afternoon, but Ben still didn't know until he called me at 10.20 this evening. Ed.
ReplyDeleteIncredible news, finally. Just happy for all concerned. Roll on actually walking through the gates for the last time and much love and luck for the journey ahead. Babs XX
ReplyDeleteFantastic news!!!!
ReplyDeleteGreat news. Really made my day.
ReplyDeleteGood news. Even better if his licence conditions do not attempt to gag the blog.......
ReplyDeleteLooking forward to confirmation that Ben is actually out, and best of luck to him.
Fantastic news. Congratulations.
ReplyDeleteSo pleased for you both and very best wishes - let us know when he is definitely out. Don't know what else to say - you both must be so pleased. It will be hard for you both so take it easy and one step at a time.
ReplyDeleteFantastic news Ben, keep your head down now and don't let the screws jeopardize your release. Talking about pillows I remember in Leyhill when they would not let me take my duvet home!!! LOL
ReplyDeleteLooking forward to meeting up with you for a chat and our long awaited beers!! Take care and congratulations again! Ben 1 - Government 0! Chris B
Chris, email me your email?
Deletemany congrats johnnyh
ReplyDeleteWoke up early and reading all the lovely goodwill messages. Got Amy W on a loop - "Our Day Will Come"....
ReplyDeleteFree at last! Free at last!
ReplyDeleteWhat bloody brilliant news, brought a tear to my eye.
ReplyDeleteYay!!!
ReplyDeleteso i have two reasons to remember todays date - first Bens fantastic news and and second, the good news about Assange! Excellent another anniversary to put into my diary!!
ReplyDeleteGreat News!! ** Does Happy Chair-Dance**
ReplyDeleteBen,
ReplyDeleteThis is great news, and long, long overdue. But as ChrisB said, keep your wits about you - you know that you have powerful enemies who won't hesitate to do you over for the slightest 'infraction'.
Excellent news, so pleased for you both. I wish you all the best for the future!
ReplyDeletesooo happy what fantanstic news, all the best and I hope we hear about your progress in the real world x
ReplyDeletejust a little note to the Ed if I may. I am in the same position as you or was, shall I say and I would really like to speak or mail you if I can, its a hard situation to be in and I really could do with some advise, please get in touch
ReplyDeleteKaren - Use the blog email: bengunn12612@gmail.com and we'll talk.
DeleteSuch very good news! I hope it all goes smoothly and quickly for you Ben. I'm so pleased for you. All the very best on the out. I look forward to reading how life is treating you in the 'real world'! x
ReplyDeleteSo very, very pleased for you both.
ReplyDeleteBest of British luck for the future Ben!
ReplyDeleteThis is really fantastic news. Best of luck Ben for the future! It won't be easy, but I'm sure you'll do some amazing things once you walk out of those prison gates a free (well aside fom the licence conditions) man!
ReplyDeleteWhew!!! Hope the blogs don't stop though, I need my daily fix.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations! Great news, eventually.
ReplyDeleteInterestingly, as a matter of law, I don't think they can lawfully impose a "life licence" due to the nature of Ben's sentence imprisonment.
ReplyDeleteBen was "detained until Her Majesty's pleasure be known" which means that, as he's being released, his sentence has been determined by Her Majesty's pleasure, and it is her pleasure to release him...!
Just a minor point.
Anonymous 10.04: Even though Ben was sentenced "at Her Majesty's Pleasure", he is still on a life licence. Such is the nature of a life sentence. He will, in effect, be serving the rest of his sentence in the community. Of course, if he committed the same crime now, as a child of 14, he would be treated differently. He would not, for example, be placed in a strip cell in solitary before even being sentenced (don't worry it's all going in the book!)
DeleteThey can (and will) impose a life license. They have done so with Jon Venables, Robert Thompson, Learco Chindamo, Mary Bell and other juveniles sentenced to detention at her majesty's pleasure.
ReplyDeleteBut congrats Ben - really pleased for you.
Splendid news... citizen Ben.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations! I'm really pleased to hear this, and of course I can't imagine your excitement (both of you). Best of luck with the transition, that everything goes smoothly. I can understand that you may be a bit busy for a little while, but any and all blog posting you can squeeze in will be much appreciated.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations !!- so very very pleased for you both. please keep up the blog?
ReplyDeleteBest of luck to both of you
ReplyDeleteFantastic news Ben. It's about time. Don't forget to pass your mobile onto someone else ;-) (that was a joke Gov, don't get excited). Keep up the blog!
ReplyDeleteThats wonderful!
ReplyDeleteMay there be many years of freedom and fun.
Sam
It's soon to be counting down the minutes not the days.
ReplyDeleteGood Luck