Speedboat killer Jack Shepherd ‘to be freed after serving half of his sentence’

Jack Shepherd could be freed after serving just half of his sentence (Picture: PA/Devon and Cornwall Police)

The family of Charlotte Brown who was killed in a speedboat crash have said they are ‘devastated’ that killer Jack Shepherd is set to be freed.

Ms Brown, 24, from Essex, died after plunging into the icy waters of the River Thames when Shepherd’s boat hit a log during a date in London in December 2015.

Shepherd had handed her the controls temporarily when she hit a submerged piece of wood and the pair were thrown into the water.

Shepherd, 34, was given a six-year sentence after being convicted of manslaughter by gross negligence.

Jack Shepherd was jailed for six years but could be out in the next few months (Picture: PA/Devon/Cornwall police)

Charlotte Brown died after the speedboat crash with Mr Shepherd (Picture: PA)

But it is claimed he is set to leave jail in the next 10 months.

Ms Brown’s father told The Sun that their family is ‘devastated’ that Shepherd will likely go free in January and has slammed the UK’s criminal justice system as ‘outrageous.’

Ms Brown’s father said that the family will ‘never get over’ what happened to his daughter, who would’ve turned 31 this month.

He said: ‘Shepherd has shown no remorse.

‘It goes to show how outrageous our criminal justice system is.’

Shepherd fled to Georgia before his trial, but was jailed in his absence.

The dad-of-one was sentenced to prison for manslaughter by gross negligence in July 2018.

The following January, he surrendered to cops in Tbilisi after a £10,000 reward offer was made.

The family of Charlotte Brown, father Graham Brown (left) sister Katie (2nd left), and mother Roz Wickens (right) (Picture: PA)

The speedboat owned by Jack Shepherd (Picture: PA)

Shepherd, of Exeter, is also serving a consecutive four-year sentence for bottling a squaddie in 2018.

He was last year moved to a category A prison where he was set to serve the rest of his sentence.

He was being held at HMP Frankland, in County Durham. Among the other prisoners at the jail, was Soham murderer Ian Huntley and serial killer Levi Bellfield.

A Ministry of Justice (MoJ) source told The Sun: ‘He has kept his head down and quietly done his time

‘He knows that a determinate sentence means his case doesn’t have to go to the Parole Board for its approval.

‘If he behaves then there is no reason to keep him in jail beyond his halfway point.

‘He will be free to simply walk out the door.’

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Ms Brown’s father said that the family will ‘never get over’ what happened to his daughter.