// BBC UK NEWS — CRONACA
Man set for release from prison after serving 21 years for phone robbery
Leroy Douglas was given an intermediate sentence in 2005 and has been in prison ever since
"It's like your son being killed - he's here but he's not."
Leroy Douglas was just 24 when he was jailed in 2005 for stealing a mobile phone and handed a minimum prison term of two-and-a-half years.
Leroy, who had a drug addiction, had a string of convictions for offences including petty crimes and shoplifting, before being sentenced for robbery and being given an indeterminate sentence of Imprisonment for Public Protection, external (IPP).
His family said this came as a "huge shock" as it meant indefinite detention. Now 45, he is set to be released in October - a decision that came weeks before Prime Minister Andy Burnham announced he would end IPPs before the end of this parliament.
Anthony Douglas said years of waiting had been "torture" for his son and his family as they remained in "limbo" over his future.
He added: "In that time he's lost his daughter, lost his cousin, lost my parents."
Leroy's sister, Natalie Douglas [left] and his father Anthony [right] have started a petition to bring Leroy closer to Cardiff when he is released
Introduced in 2005, IPPs were established to keep serious offenders, who were perceived to be a risk to the public, in prison.
They imposed a minimum sentence for offenders, but no maximum or end date, with criminals having to serve the minimum term before being considered for release by the parole board.