Armed kidnapper, 29, who yelled ‘Big up Keir Starmer’ after his early launch is again behind bars after breaching licensing situations
He made a mockery of Labour’s early prison release scheme by triumphantly posing in front of a £150,000 Bentley and shouting ‘Big up Keir Starmer!’ as he strolled to freedom.
But armed kidnapper Daniel Dowling-Brooks is back behind bars after breaching his licensing conditions, The Mail On Sunday can reveal. What’s more, he’s now flouting rules by documenting his life inside on social media.
Dowling-Brooks, 29, was among the first of 1,200 prisoners to be freed early last October. He promised he had changed his ways as he was let out of HMP Swaleside in Kent. But it can be revealed he has been recalled for violating the conditions of his release, though the details are unclear.
When an offender is released early from prison, they are subject to license conditions for the remainder of their sentence, such as receiving visits from a supervising officer and staying in the UK.
Since his recall, Dowling-Brooks has been breaking strict jail rules by posting on Instagram. He boasts about rapping in prison and complains about life behind bars. The Ministry of Justice confirmed last night it was investigating after the MoS brought Dowling-Brooks’s posts to its attention.
It is now threatening to increase his sentence and has contacted Instagram to get his posts removed.
The father-of-two uploaded a photo from inside his cell which showed his bed and prison items.
He wrote: ‘£60 for full duvet/pillow set. But you only get £19.80 a week. They want you to starve for three weeks just to be comfy. Don’t come jail it’s not as good as it might look trust me.’
Armed kidnapper Daniel Dowling-Brooks (pictured) made a mockery of Labour’s early prison release scheme by triumphantly posing in front of a £150,000 Bentley and shouting ‘Big up Keir Starmer!’ as he strolled to freedom in October 2024
However, the 29-year-old (pictured here with his mother Sarah upon his release last year) is now back behind bars after breaching his licensing conditions
This week he posted a picture of stereo equipment with the caption: ‘Rappin ain’t dead!’ Dowling-Brooks also pictured his cell window with bars and the caption: ‘Looks like it’s an 8th summer in this bitch.’
He used the same social media account to post from prison during his original sentence.
One source said: ‘This sort of behaviour will not go down well.’
Former Met detective Peter Bleksley said: ‘This makes a complete mockery of the early release scheme. The criminals were laughing at the authorities at the time. Now this individual has shown how utterly ridiculous the whole thing was.
‘The issue of phones in prisons is huge. It’s time there were proper punishments as a result.’
A Prison Service spokesman said: ‘We have launched an investigation into these videos and have requested their removal.
‘Any prisoner found with contraband, such as a mobile phone or recording equipment, is breaking the law and could face extra time in prison.’
When Dowling-Brooks was released last October, he declared ‘I love my life’ as he posed leaning on the Bentley.
He said: ‘I’m a dad of two so I’m out now and I’m very happy. I’m going to be good.’ Talking about his crimes, he revealed: ‘I kidnapped someone who owed my friend money. I tied him up and had him at gunpoint. I beat him up.’
His mother, Sarah, who was waiting for him, said: ‘He’s going to be good now. He has done his time. I’m so happy he is home.’
He had previously been given a seven-year sentence for kidnapping and grievous bodily harm.
He was one of hundreds of prisoners to be greeted by family members with high-end super cars as they walked out.
