Sarah Davey, one of Britain’s most infamous criminals, has been released from prison 25 years after being involved in the murder of 71-year-old Lily Lilley. Davey was just 14 years old when she and a friend committed the heinous crime in Failsworth, Greater Manchester.
The pair had befriended the lonely grandmother in her terraced home, where she had invited them in for a cup of tea. What followed was a brutal attack that shocked the nation. During their time at Lilley’s home, Davey and her accomplice escalated their cruel treatment of the elderly woman by taunting her, squirting her with shampoo, and cutting her legs with a knife.
Their torment of Lilley culminated in her death, after which they disposed of her body in a particularly gruesome manner: they choked her with a gag so tight that it forced her false teeth down her throat, dumped her body in a wheelie bin, paraded it through the streets, and eventually discarded it in a canal. Additionally, they ransacked her house, made numerous calls from her phone, and used her pension money to purchase snacks.
The murder, described by the presiding judge at the time as “unspeakably wicked,” resulted in Davey’s indefinite imprisonment starting in 1999. However, her incarceration was marked by multiple breaches of release conditions. Despite being freed and recalled to prison seven times since 2013, Davey has now been released once more as of March 23, as reported by the Daily Mail.
This latest release has reignited public outrage, with photos circulating of Davey wearing makeup and fashionable clothes in prison, and reports of her enjoying nights out and shopping trips during previous periods of freedom. Nigel Mills, a Tory MP, voiced the frustration and disbelief felt by many, calling the crime “truly evil” and the decision to release Davey “disgraceful” and a mockery of justice.
In response to the controversy, a spokesperson for the Ministry of Justice assured that Davey would be under close supervision for the rest of her life, subject to strict conditions, and at risk of being recalled to prison if she violates these terms. The Parole Board also defended its decision, explaining that parole decisions are based on assessing the risk posed by the prisoner to the public and whether this risk can be managed outside of prison.
The Board outlined that their review process is exhaustive and meticulous, involving a thorough examination of the original crime, behavior changes, the impact on victims, and testimony from professionals like probation officers, psychiatrists, and psychologists. The parole review, which can last a full day or more, includes detailed questioning of the prisoner and witnesses to ensure that public safety remains the top priority. Despite these assurances, the decision to release Davey has stirred a profound unease among the public and the victim’s family, highlighting the ongoing debate over how justice is administered for the most serious of crimes.
