Ian Paterson's victims write to Justice Secretary in last-ditch attempt to halt open prison move

Victims of the surgeon accidental moving him to a little class jailhouse would "undermine the severity of his crimes" and compound their trauma aft painstakingly waiting for justice

Devastated victims of jailed bosom surgeon Ian Paterson person written to the Justice Secretary successful a bid to halt his transportation to an unfastened prison.

Families penned the missive to Shabana Mahmood aft it emerged officials agreed the disgraced medic could determination to a Category D prison. Paterson, 64, carried retired botched procedures connected much than 1,000 bosom cancer patients implicit 14 years.

The letter, written by Solihull MP Saqib Bhatti connected behalf of victims, reads: "Many of my constituents person been affected by [Paterson's] actions whether straight due to the fact that they were patients oregon due to the fact that loved ones were and sadly did not survive. None of the victims were notified that Mr Paterson was being moved and lone recovered retired done media reports.

"Given that Mr Paterson remains nether probe for further crimes, my constituents are asking for the determination to determination Mr. Paterson to beryllium moved to a lower-category situation to beryllium removed and reversed. I would beryllium grateful if you could see this with a substance of urgency."

Victims person besides launched an online petition – which has amassed astir 2,000 signatures – urging ministers to halt the move. Survivor Deborah Douglas, who started the appeal, said: "Paterson was sentenced to 20 years successful situation for his heinous acts that resulted successful important harm to his patients. Transferring him to a lower-security installation would not lone undermine the severity of his crimes but besides soundlessness the voices of the victims and their families who are inactive seeking justness and closure."

Sally Atterbury, the girl of unfortunate Sylvia Atterbury, added: "He [Paterson] is attempting to manipulate the court. What astir the victims! They nary longer person a say, and their families conscionable privation answers. Our wellness and wellbeing needs to beryllium taken into consideration. He's a convict."

Paterson was convicted of 17 counts of wounding with intent and 3 counts of unlawful wounding. Jurors heard helium carried retired unnecessary operations wherever helium had exaggerated oregon invented the hazard of cancer. He had worked astatine the Spire Parkway Hospital and Spire Little Aston Hospital successful Birmingham betwixt 1997 and 2011, arsenic good arsenic NHS hospitals tally by the Heart of England NHS Foundation Trust.

Inquests into the deaths of 62 of his patients opened past period astatine Birmingham and Solihull Coroner’s Court. The fig could beryllium adjacent higher arsenic much cases are expected to beryllium referred.

Paterson is acceptable to determination from his Category C to a Category D. Category D lockups person minimal information and let eligible prisoners to walk astir of their time distant from the situation connected licence to transportation retired enactment and education.

The Ministry of Justice said immoderate determination to determination an offender to unfastened conditions is made by situation governors aft strict hazard assessments. A connection added: “If they measurement retired of enactment they look being returned to closed conditions immediately."

To enactment the petition, sojourn https://www.change.org/p/stop-criminal-surgeon-ian-paterson-from-being-transferred-to-an-open-prison