Son of British couple who have been jailed in Iran for ‘spying’ calls for prisoner swap – as No 10 rules out exchanging UK’s ‘worst stalker’ with Tehran

The son of a British couple jailed in Iran for ‘espionage’ has called for a prisoner swap as No 10 banned Britain from swapping its ‘worst pervert’ with Tehran.

Joe Bennett, whose mother and stepfather have been detained in Iran since January 2025, said deporting Iranian national Richard Jan in exchange for his parents could secure their release and questioned why this was not considered.

Lindsay and Craig Foreman, from East Sussex, were sentenced to 10 years in prison in February for espionage charges, which they deny. Both are currently on hunger strike in Tehran’s notorious Evin Prison.

The application made by their families to the UK Government to ensure their release included suggestions that Iranian pervert Richard Jan, who was sentenced to life imprisonment in 2004, be exchanged with the couple.

But Downing Street has rejected the prisoner swap idea.

A government spokesman said there was ‘no truth whatsoever’ in a possible swap deal.

They said that giving credence to such claims was ‘not only wrong’ but also ‘risks hindering all other efforts currently being made by this Government to secure the release of the Foremans’.

Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy said such external ‘arrangements’ could be made but ‘the details of that would not be accurate’.

The Foremans’ family’s appeal to the UK Government to secure his release included proposals to swap convicted Iranian pervert Richard Jan (pictured)

Joe Bennett, whose mother and stepfather have been detained in Iran since January 2025, said that the deportation of Iranian national Richard Jan in exchange for his parents could ensure their release.

He said: ‘From what I’ve heard, I’m not sure it’s… believable.’

Speaking to Sky News, the justice secretary said he could not discuss the details of the Foremans’ case because it would ‘undermine our discussions with the Iranians’.

Mr Bennett, of Folkestone in Kent, said there was ‘clear interest’ in a swap for Jan and questioned what alternative solution would be offered to his family by the Government if Jan’s swap was not seen as ‘a solution or a viable route’.

He said: ‘I think the question we need to ask is; If this isn’t a solution or a viable path forward, why not?

‘Because there seems to be a lot of people around this gentleman and, as I said, there is a lot of interest from Iran.’

Speaking to BBC News, Mr Bennett added: ‘If he is deported and my mum and Craig come back then I need to know, if we’re not investigating then why?

‘Secondly, if we’re not going to explore this, then what are the other solutions we’re looking at?’

Lindsay and Craig Foreman, both 53, were sentenced to 10 years in prison in February following espionage charges.

Downing Street rejects prisoner swap idea for couple

A government spokesman added there was “no substance whatsoever” in a possible swap deal for Jan

In January 2025, they were arrested and imprisoned while passing through Iran while on a world tour on a motorcycle.

Earlier this month the couple lost an appeal against their convictions.

Their families expressed concern that their communication with the couple, who went on hunger strike to protest their conviction, was cut off.

An unnamed source told The Telegraph that Iranian officials had raised Jan’s case with the Government and Foreman’s family members during consular meetings.

Jan, dubbed ‘Britain’s worst stalker’, was sentenced to life imprisonment for targeting 200 victims over seven years, including a councilor whose house he bombed and a social worker whose car he set on fire.

The former biochemist, from Streatham, south London, had more than 4,500 threatening calls linked to him – which police described as the ‘tip of the iceberg’ of his actions.

Jan’s victims were subjected to having their ‘trademark’ tires slashed, while others were followed to their homes, sent unsolicited pizzas, taxis and even a pest control officer.

Some of his victims were forced to quit their jobs, move homes or change their names.

Jan, dubbed ‘Britain’s worst stalker’, was sentenced to life imprisonment for targeting 200 victims over seven years

Speaking to Sky News by phone earlier, Mr Foreman described it as ‘very frustrating’ that no steps had been taken to facilitate a swap for Jan.

He said: ‘Both Lindsay and I were a bit annoyed when this guy’s name came up but we were excited to think it could actually happen now. There may be a prisoner exchange here.

‘Nothing has happened so far but there is definitely something there.

‘A carrot dangled. It looks like no action has been taken yet. “This is very frustrating.”