'I want my son back': Mother's fight to free son jailed in 2005 over phone theft

Shaun Lloyd served eight years from 2006 to 2014 before he was first released, but he has since been recalled five times, Sangita Lal reports

Just before our interview, Shirley Debono’s phone rings.

Her screen shows HMP Cardiff calling, then an automated voice greets her before her son can talk – epitomising just how far she is from him.

“Hiya mum you alright?”

Shaun Lloyd, 39, was jailed in 2005 and given an Indeterminate Sentence for Public Protection (IPP) of two years and nine months in 2006.

At 18 years old, he was one of the first prisoners to be given an IPP, which was introduced in the same year.

An IPP means offenders have a minimum term to their sentence, but no automatic end date.

Even when released, they are placed on an indefinite licence, meaning they are never truly free.

Shaun Lloyd was just 18 when he was jailed for mugging someone of their mobile phone / Credit: ITV News

Shaun served eight years from 2006 to 2014 before he was first released, but he has since been recalled five times.

The latest time was in June 2026, following an anonymous phone call alleging violence towards his mother, which she denies.

Twenty-one years after his first arrest, he shares just how much being an IPP prisoner has taken from his life.

“I feel like I’m constantly living on wishes, hopes and prayers,” Shaun said.

“I’m not in any of the pictures, I’m not in any of the family photos, it’s little things like that I’ve just learned to get used to.

“There’s been 140 deaths of IPPs over the years and I feel like every day I have to find the fight not to be the 141st.”

Shaun was one of the first prisoners to be given an IPP sentence, introduced by Lord David Blunkett in 2005.

Abolished in 2012 – with Lord Blunkett deeming it the single biggest stain on the country’s justice system – there are still more 2,329 PPs serving time,

Around 900 of them have never been released.

Shaun has struggled with his mental health due to the IPP sentence / Credit: ITV News

Shirley, 65, has been campaigning for IPPs to be released since 2008, three years into her son’s sentence.

In 2022, I interviewed her as she protested outside Downing Street and delivered a letter through the door.

Four years and five prime ministers later, for her, it seems painful to feel hope.

“We know a review could take years-and-years. IPP prisoners haven’t got years, they haven’t got months, some of them haven’t got weeks,” she said.

“I want my son back, I’ve fought for long enough.”

A new report by the UN Working Group has found that Shaun is one of five IPP prisoners being held unlawfully, stating there is no “legal basis in international law for their continued detention”.

It also said the prisoners are being subjected to “psychological harm” and has urged the government to “undertake a full independent investigation”.

Barrister Dr Muin Bose, who has been leading the legal action, said: “Whatever action is taken, it needs to be taken quickly. I want my client to be released, you know, as soon as possible.

“The UN working Group also points out that it’s been three years since this issue first was raised in various forums of the UN, and nothing has been done to address this structural, injustice.”