To the Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood

"We demand that you immediately
stop the deportation of Sheldon Coore and grant him leave to remain. After serving 20 years for a £20 theft, any removal constitutes an inhumane 'double punishment'under the discredited IPP sentence. Given his fresh autism diagnosis and life-long residency in the UK, he is a highly vulnerable individual. We call on you to exercise your discretion to end this injustice and urgently review his IPP status on compassionate and human rights grounds."

Sheldon Coore, now 47, has already endured the harsh consequences of an IPP (Indeterminate Sentence for Public Protection), having served 20 long years. Despite the intentions of the British justice system, Sheldon is now facing an even graver injustice: deportation to Jamaica, a country he left as an infant, at merely 16 months old. He has no connections there, having spent nearly his entire life in the UK. His recent diagnosis of autism also presents significant grounds for a retrial.

The introduction of IPP sentences in the UK, designed as a measure to protect the public from dangerous offenders, was seen as a controversial policy, which was eventually abolished in 2012. Notably, the former Health Secretary has publicly acknowledged its introduction as a grave error. Sheldon Coore is a prime example of the system's failure. His imprisonment stemmed from a robbery involving a mere £20 – a crime that does not justify a life sentence nor deportation to a foreign land, unfamiliar to him.

Sheldon’s autism diagnosis has provided new evidence that should initiate a fair retrial. This is crucial not only for his liberty but for his right to remain in the UK, the only home he's ever known. Autism can profoundly affect decision-making and behaviour, factors that are crucial during judicial reviews. It is imperative that the justice system takes this new diagnosis into account.

Deporting Sheldon would be both inhumane and unjust, severing him permanently from his family and support network. During his incarceration, Sheldon may not have had the opportunity for rehabilitation due to his undiagnosed condition, a factor that significantly impacts his rehabilitation and reintegration into society.

We stand at a crossroads of justice and humanity. It's time to acknowledge our mistakes, to offer Sheldon a fair retrial, and to reassess his deportation order with compassion and empathy.

Please sign this petition to prevent another tragedy caused by the shortcomings of our legal system and ensure Sheldon Coore remains where he belongs, here in the UK. Your signature could save him from an unjust exile and help rectify an historic wrong.

#justiceforsheldon