Last ‘feral thug’ still behind bars for kicking and stamping Sophie Lancaster to death for being dressed as a goth in 2007 is cleared for release

The last ‘wild thug’ still behind bars for kicking and stamping Sophie Lancaster to death for dressing like a goth has been freed.

Although Brendan Harris, now 35, was convicted of breaking a nurse’s nose while in custody for the shocking 2007 murder, the Parole Board concluded he no longer posed a risk to the public.

Harris was just 15 when he and a group of friends brutally beat 21-year-old Robert Maltby in a park in Bacup, Lancashire, before attacking his girlfriend Sophie, who ran to defend him.

Sophie, 20, spent her final moments cradling her partner’s head in her lap as the thugs kicked and beat her unconscious. He died in hospital two weeks later.

Witnesses claimed the attackers then celebrated and boasted: ‘There’s two near-dead moshes there – you’d like to see them – they’re in complete disarray.’

His murder sparked a wave of disgust; His mother, Sylvia, who died in 2022, was later appointed OBE after campaigning for attacks on members of alternative subcultures that were described as hate crimes.

One of the attackers, Ryan Herbert, then 16, was found guilty of murdering Sophie, while Harris was convicted after a trial and sentenced to life imprisonment for what a judge described as ‘brutal thuggery’.

Both were convicted of GBH against Mr Maltby and Harris was sentenced to an indeterminate prison sentence.

Sophie Lancaster, 20, (pictured) spent her final moments cradling her partner’s head as thugs kicked and beat her unconscious. He died in hospital two weeks later.

Sophie’s boyfriend Robert Maltby, photographed before her funeral in 2007

Herbert was allowed to be released on license in 2022 after the Parole Board decided he had made “significant changes in his life that reflect his remorse, insight and increasing maturity”.

At the time, Sophie’s mother said she was ‘very disappointed’ and said: ‘Once again we have a justice system that has failed to deliver justice.

‘No matter how much progress people make in prison, their sentences are given taking into account the extent of their crimes,’ he added.

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‘Those who attacked him may not have been given life sentences, but I was given them.’

Tragically Dr Lancaster died suddenly in hospital just a month later.

In response to Harris’ release, the charity set up to honor Sophie’s legacy said it had “no comment on the perpetrators”.

But in a statement today, the Sophie Lancaster Foundation said: ‘At this time, we choose to remember all victims of hate crime, those whose lives, like Sophie, were taken and those whose lives have been irrevocably changed by hate and violence.

‘For most survivors and families the impact is lifelong.

‘We honor Sophie’s memory by reaffirming our mission to eliminate prejudice, hatred and intolerance everywhere and continuing our work to challenge hate in all its forms.’

Harris, fueled by cider, Stella Artois beer and peach schnapps, admitted launching the frenzied attack, saying he was “drunk and showing off”.

His trial heard that he launched a series of kicks to Sophie’s face.

Along with Herbert, he was convicted of kicking and stamping a 16-year-old boy a few weeks ago.

Harris, who was sentenced to at least 17 years and 3 months in prison, remains behind bars so far.

Sophie’s mother, Dr., died in 2022. Sylvia Lancaster OBE has previously said she was “hugely disappointed” to see the release of Ryan Herbert, who killed her daughter.

During his sentence, he was transferred to a psychiatric hospital after being diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia.

However, in 2013 he broke a male nurse’s nose in what was judged in court to be a single ‘serious’ blow.

He was found guilty of causing grievous bodily harm and returned to prison in 2014, with four months added to his life sentence.

Harris reached the end of her minimum term in August 2025, meaning she is eligible for parole.

At his initial review, he was recommended for release on license subject to strict conditions, with a panel stating that he had ‘not committed any violence for over 13 years’.

At the hearing, the summary of which was made public on Tuesday, it was heard that after the attack on the nurse, the nurse completed a program for the use of violence.

According to the report, “risk factors” at the time of the murder included “lifestyle and choice of friends” as well as alcohol and drug use.

As a teenager, Harris also “had difficulty managing extreme emotions,” “acted without considering the consequences,” and “demonstrated poor problem-solving skills.”

The review said he was ‘engaged in a specialist regime designed to help people recognize and deal with a wide range of problems’.

Ryan Herbert (pictured) was 16 when he and a group of friends brutally beat Robert Maltby in a park in Bacup, Lancashire, in 2007, before attacking his girlfriend Sophie Lancaster, who was fatally attacked when she tried to defend herself.

(From left) Daniel Mallett, Danny Hulme and Joseph Hulme, convicted for their roles in the attack on Robert Maltby and Sophie Lancaster

‘The panel was told that Mr Harris’ behavior in prison was good,’ the report states.

‘The panel was told Mr Harris was motivated to succeed and address risk factors.

‘All witnesses at the oral hearing supported the release of Mr Harris.’

The panel reviewed the release plan provided by the probation officer and ‘compared his recommendations with the assessed risks’.

The proposed evacuation plan restricts where Harris can live, as well as placing ‘strict limits’ on her ‘contacts, movements and activities’.

‘The panel concluded that this plan was robust enough to make it work in the community,’ he said.

‘After considering the circumstances of the offence, the progress made while in custody and the evidence presented at the hearing, the panel was satisfied that a prison sentence was no longer necessary for the protection of the public.

‘The panel noted that Mr Harris had not committed any violence for over 13 years.

‘Witnesses noted that he had developed good insight and there were no concerns about alcohol or drug use during his sentence.’

Other conditions of his release include being of good behavior, disclosing improved relations with his probation officer, complying with a curfew and being subject to alcohol monitoring and drug testing.

He also needs to comply with an exclusion zone to avoid contact with victims and continue to work to address risk factors.

In 2021, Sophie’s mother worked with Coronation Street producers on a hard-hitting storyline about hate crime.

In the series, the characters Nina Lucas and Seb Franklin are violently attacked due to the appearance of a gang of drunken teenagers.

The story had many similarities to what happened to Sophie.

Sophie Lancaster: The girl who was murdered because she looked Goth

Sophie Lancaster, pictured in hospital after being attacked, died 13 days later

Sophie Lancaster was murdered in 2007, aged 20, by several teenagers who attacked her and her boyfriend Robert Maltby, then 21, as they walked in Stubbylee Park in Lancashire on 11 August.

Police believe the attack was linked to the couple wearing gothic clothing.

A 15-year-old witness told police: ‘They were running, kicking his head and jumping up and down on his head.’

Police said it was “a sustained attack in which the couple suffered serious head injuries and their faces were so swollen that we could not determine which was a man and which was a woman.” Robert also fell into a coma before slowly recovering. He has no memory of the attack.

Witnesses claimed the attackers celebrated afterwards and boasted: ‘There are two moshes almost dead – you want to see them – they are an absolute disgrace.’

Sophie fell into a coma 13 days after the attack and died due to severe head trauma. He was placed on life support and hospital staff terminated it after determining he would never regain consciousness.

At the 2008 trial the prosecution told the hearing: ‘Sophie and Robert were singled out because they looked and dressed differently, not because of anything they said or did.’

Sophie’s mother Sylvia, who later set up the Sophie Lancaster Foundation, said: ‘What angers me most is that this is seen as an isolated incident, perhaps the severity of what happened to Sophie is isolated, but the attacks are far from isolated. You are targeted because you follow a different culture; ‘You are seen as easy to choose.’

The Sophie Lancaster Foundation was established to combat prejudice against people from alternative subcultures and to campaign for hate crime legislation to be extended to such individuals.