One of PC Andrew Harper's killers is listed as 'violent' and a 'risk to staff' with inmates at high-security prison 'terrified of him'

By OLIVIA ALLHUSEN, FOREIGN NEWS REPORTER Published: 23:05, 15 August 2026 | Updated: 23:10, 15 August 2026 One of PC Andrew Harper's killers has been listed as 'violent' and a 'risk to staff' at a high-security prison, where inmates are said to be 'terrified of him'. Jessie Cole, 24, is also marked as 'a climber' by bosses at HMP Whitemoor in Cambridgeshire, amid claims his behaviour behind bars means he would pose a danger in a more open jail, according to reports. The details emerged in The Sun, which reported that Cole remains in one of the country's high-security prisons despite being earmarked for freedom under the Government's early release scheme. But despite the warnings on his prison files, Cole is said to be on a 'standard' regime, giving him access to privileges including television, DVDs and phone calls, as well as £20 a week to spend in the prison canteen. A source told the newspaper: 'He is a difficult and dangerous prisoner and a lot of inmates and staff are terrified of him.'  Cole and Albert Bowers were jailed in 2020 for the manslaughter of newlywed Thames Valley Police officer PC Harper during a theft getaway in Berkshire. The pair were handed 13-year sentences after being cleared of murder but convicted of manslaughter. PC Andrew Harper, a Thames Valley Police officer, was killed in August 2019 when responding to a quad bike theft in Berkshire Jessie Cole and Albert Bowers, pictured in 2020, are set to be freed from prison under Labour's early release scheme The prospect that they could be freed in January after serving half of their sentences, rather than two-thirds, has sparked fury. However, Whitehall insiders reportedly said Prime Minister Andy Burnham was 'increasingly confident' that Cole and Bowers would be excluded from the early release scheme. A source said: 'Jessie should never have been considered for early release because of his crime. But his behaviour and danger risk also show exactly why Jessie is not ready to be freed.' Cole is also said to remain a Category A prisoner, the highest security classification, and has a number of alerts on his prison record. The source claimed prisoners would normally be moved to a lower-security jail towards the end of their sentence and said Cole's continued detention in a high-security prison showed he was not considered someone who would be released soon. Cole, who is described as a trained boxer, was previously held at Feltham Young Offender Institution before being moved to an adult jail. He was allegedly known for bullying other inmates there and would climb to a height to get his own way, according to the report. Cole would climb on to a second-floor unit and go over railings if he was protesting about issues such as missing a gym session, it was claimed. The source added: 'Feltham was full of killers and gang members but he was the worst.' A petition to keep PC Andrew Harper's killers in jail has passed 1million signatures as pressure grows on Andy Burnham to keep them behind bars. The Thames Valley Police officer, 28, was killed in the line of duty after responding to reports of a quadbike theft near Stanford Dingley, Berkshire, in August 2019. While pursuing the thieves, who were in a SEAT Toledo, PC Harper's foot got caught in the vehicle's tow rope before he was dragged down a road for more than a mile. Driver Henry Long was jailed for 16 years, and passengers, Albert Bowers and Jessie Cole were sentenced to 13 years for manslaughter in 2020. But Bowers and Cole are currently eligible for an early release as part of the government's effort to reduce prison overcrowding. Jessie Cole, 24, has been listed as 'violent' and a 'risk to staff' at a high-security prison, where inmates are said to be 'terrified of him' Andy Burnham has been urged not to go back on his pledge to find a way to keep PC Harper's killers behind bars Debbie Adlam has urged the Prime Minister not to allow her son's killers early release from prison The petition organised by Aileen O'Connor, Chair of the Thames Valley Police Federation aims to stop their early release. As of Friday morning it had reached more than one million signatures. Andy Burnham is now under increasing pressure to make sure the pair are not released when the early release scheme begins in October. PC Harper's grieving mother said that she would be 'absolutely furious' if the Prime Minister went back on his pledge to block their early release. Debbie Adlam told the Daily Mail's Trial podcast: 'This would have been all for nothing, I would just be absolutely furious because Andrew's life was ended in such a horrific way. 'The country expects justice and it just seems like we're being pushed off a cliff right now. 'I really don't know how I would get by if that was to happen.' She added that she was 'absolutely drained' by the indecision from Downing Street about whether Cole and Bowers would remain behind bars and not be released in January. The scheme would also see 5,000 people to be released early under sentencing changes, down from 6,000 after ministers exempted rapists and 'serious' child sex offenders. But the potential early release for Cole and Bowers has prompted widespread criticism from Police Federations and 50 policing leaders across the UK. A letter from chief constables and other law enforcement leaders also called on the Prime Minister to 'establish an additional public protection safeguard' for the most serious offenders, when future early release schemes are floated. Suffolk Police Federation Chair, Darren Harris said: 'Every officer who puts on a uniform knows there are occasions when they may have to put themselves in harm's way.' 'That is part of the responsibility we accept when we become police officers. 'But there also has to be confidence that the system will stand behind us when something goes catastrophically wrong. 'Officers and their families need to know that the sacrifice involved in this job is understood. 'They need to know that an officer's life is not treated as an unfortunate footnote when decisions are made about sentencing and release.'