A man convicted of a violent robbery in 2011 and sentenced to an indeterminate term for public protection is still in custody after 15 years.

Andrew Whittle, now 48, was imprisoned following a serious robbery in 2011. The judge at Bolton Crown Court imposed an indeterminate sentence for public protection (IPP) of three years and four months, but Whittle has remained behind bars beyond that initial term.

IPPs, in place from 2005 to 2012, were meant for dangerous criminals not eligible for life sentences. These sentences had a minimum tariff followed by indefinite detention until the Parole Board deemed the individual safe for release. However, they often led to prolonged incarceration, as highlighted by the Prison Reform Trust. While serving time at HMP Dartmoor in 2024, Whittle was found in possession of three mobile phones, including an iPhone and a Samsung device, along with two chargers.

During a court hearing at Plymouth Crown Court on 12 May, it was revealed that Whittle made multiple calls using these phones, but they were not for illegal purposes. Currently held at HMP Fosse Way, Whittle has 22 convictions for 91 offenses and pleaded guilty to eight charges related to the unauthorized use of the phones, as reported by Plymouth Live.

Judge Robert Linford noted that Whittle had already served over 15 years of his IPP sentence and committed the phone offenses while at Dartmoor. Although acknowledging the circumstances, the judge expressed his obligation to impose a further custodial sentence for the new offenses.

Whittle was given an additional 18-month prison term by Judge Linford, who stated that he could not reduce it further. He was also ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £187.

In the initial case back in 2011, Whittle brutally attacked a woman who offered him a ride, using a meat cleaver and leaving her with head injuries requiring stitches. He admitted to attempted robbery, wounding with intent, and possessing an offensive weapon, leading to the IPP sentence at Bolton Crown Court.

Following its closure in 2024 due to safety concerns related to radon gas, HMP Dartmoor has been vacant. The prison service is incurring significant costs, approximately £4 million annually, for rent, rates, and security of the empty facility.

Without reopening Dartmoor to house inmates, the prison service is projected to lose £4 million per year until the lease expires in 2033, totaling an estimated £32 million over the remaining term.