A violent career criminal who murdered PC Malcolm Walker, and who has a history of attacking prison officers, is suing the prison service over alleged breaches of his human rights.
On 4th October 2001, Nicholas Walters, 40, chased and rammed PC Malcolm Walker who was a West Midlands Police motorcycle cop.
PC Walker had spotted the thief driving dangerously in a stolen car before he tried to stop him.
The terrifying incident happened in front of dozens of people in, Perry Barr, Birmingham.
In 2002, Walters was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum of 18 years. Earlier this month, his parole board refused to grant the cop killer parole.
When sentencing Walters back in 2001, Mr Justice Hunt said that he had “deliberately went after” PC Walker and that Walters was “determined to get him”.
The 46-year-old constable, who was married with four children, had been a police officer for 21 years.
The Mirror also reported that Walters parole board has told him that he will not be moved to an open prison because: “His behaviour had been problematic and concerns still remained. He himself recognised he was not ready for progression or release.”
However, Walters is now commanding £40,000 in damages under Articles 2 and 3 of the European Convention on Human Rights.
Articles 2 and 3 of the European Convention on Human Rights cover the right to life and the right not to be exposed to inhumane treatment.
His claim says he was “not listened to” in a 2018 incident and did not get the right “attention, treatment and support” – causing “stress, distress, pain and discomfort”.
PC Walker’s widow Helen, 63, said: “It’s an absolute joke. He took my husband’s life, so what rights has he got?
“He’s supposed to have got a life sentence, I was annoyed he didn’t even get the maximum 25 years. It’s his problem he’s staying in prison. The longer he stays in, the better.”
Jailing Walters – who was taped in jail boasting about killing PC Walker –Mr Justice Hunt said he used the car “as a weapon”.
Walters’ own lawsuit admits he poses “management challenges” for jails.
He spat at staff five times in April and May this year in HMP Wakefield and had his sentenced increased by two-and-a-half years in August for attacking a guard in HMP Frankland, Co Durham, last September.
His High Court claim for aggravated damages is over being put in isolation at HMP Long Lartin, Worcs, when a warder trying to restrain him was knocked down.
Speaking about the news, John Apter, Chair of the Police Federation of England & Wales, told Emergency Services News:
“I can’t comment on the legal process but what I can say is my thoughts are very much with PC Walker’s family.
“They will suffer the pain of the loss forever, their human rights were tossed aside when PC Walkers life was so cruelly taken”.
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Appalling lenient sentence, should have been jailed for minimum 30 years. Disgusting behaviour, even recently so, no hope of change or remorse.
Why do you keep calling Prison Officers Warders. They have never been called this, in this country, apart from the press. It is not of this country and is antiquated.
A career criminal and cop killer whining about his human rights after misbehaving in jail? The longer he is kept in there the better. This report makes clear that he is a danger to the public and must remain incarcerated like any other dangerous animal.
Given the record of the Parole Board and some of the awful people they have released only to seriously re-offend, his record must be really abysmal for his claim to be turned down.
As for his human rights claim, the sooner this sort of thing is taken out of public funding the better. He has an absolute right to a criminal defence and appeal at the public expense, but once that is over, that should be it.
He is scum and will always be. He gave up any rights when he committed the offence. In my book he should be locked up for life with no human contact, bread and water. He should die in prison and anything that helps that is ok by me ! That is Justice !!
I think that if another’s life is taken that should be it and we should ensure that is not repeated for any reason, illness or not. The law is turning into a joke. A life has been taken and it should not be repeated although I am not happy about paying for their keep. They should also be required to work at something to pay for their keep.