Victim says he is "devastated" as man who kicked him before a van becomes eligible for early release

Right · 2James Hatcher, 41, says he is "devastated" after being told that Salman Kamraman Karim, who kicked him in front of an oncoming van, is eligible for early release only months into an 11-year sentence. 1 2 Right · 2The attack was random and unprompted. It happened on Brighton Road in South Croydon, London, on 16 August 2025. Hatcher, who had his noise-cancelling headphones in, says Karim came out of a vape shop and kicked him in front of the van. The Daily Mail says video footage shows him falling. 1 2 Right · 2Hatcher suffered life-threatening injuries, including a bleed on the brain and broken legs, ribs, jaw and pelvis. He was put in an induced coma, had several life-saving operations and woke after six days. A London Air Ambulance team reached him within nine minutes. He spent about six weeks in hospital and had to relearn to walk. More than a year on he still needs physiotherapy and cannot work as a crane driver or operator. 1 2

Right · 1The van driver spoke to officers and was not arrested. A few days later Karim was arrested and charged. 1 Right · 2On 4 June 2026 Croydon Crown Court found Karim guilty of grievous bodily harm with intent and sentenced him to 11 years. The Daily Mail adds that he was acquitted of attempted murder. Hatcher attended the sentencing and said 11 years "was not a long enough punishment". 1 2 Right · 2On 20 July Hatcher received a letter from the Ministry of Justice saying Karim was eligible for early release. He called this "sickening". The Mail describes the timing as a few months into the sentence, while the Express says "only weeks". 2 1

Right · 1The Mail says the Ministry of Justice was contacted for comment. Neither article reports a response, or says when Karim would actually be freed. 1 Right · 2The case is set against the government's new early-release scheme, under which about 5,000 prisoners are due to be freed in stages over the coming year to ease overcrowding. The first wave began on Thursday 1 October. The Mail says more than 700 offenders were freed that day and that more than 4,500 will be eligible over ten months. 2 1 Right · 2The Mail says prisoners who would have been released after two thirds of their sentence will under the scheme be freed at the halfway point. It says the scheme was devised by Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood when she was Justice Secretary. The Express instead calls it "Andy Burnham's prison scheme" and gives no explanation. 1 2

Right · 1Nick Timothy, the shadow justice secretary, called the releases "an insult to victims, a danger to the public". 1