A woman, whose identity has been protected and referred to as Alice, has described living in “terrifying limbo” after receiving conflicting information from officials about her rapist's potential escorted trips from a secure hospital. The confusion and subsequent retraction by the Prison and Probation Service have caused significant distress and anxiety for the victim.
Byron Stubbs, from Sunderland, was given an indefinite hospital order in February 2026 after being labelled a “dangerous offender”. The court heard he had raped Alice, and later stabbed a seven-year-old child and two women. His sentencing judge noted Stubbs' history of severe mental illness, exacerbated by alcohol and illegal drug use, stating he would pose a risk to the public for a “very long time” and required “intensive and enduring” psychiatric treatment.
Despite the recent sentencing, Alice received a letter from the Prison and Probation Service in April 2026, less than three months after Stubbs' order, indicating that his medical team “would soon be considering escorted leaves”. The letter also requested information about any exclusion zones Alice might want and promised updates on the “outcome of the leave application and any approved conditions”. Escorted leave, as described in the correspondence, involves a patient leaving a secure hospital accompanied by staff for short periods, intended for therapeutic rehabilitation.
The prospect of Stubbs being granted leave so soon caused Alice immense fear and anxiety. However, after the BBC contacted the Prison and Probation Service regarding the matter, Alice received a subsequent letter apologising for the “confusion and distress”. This communication stated that an application for leave was never actually made and that “consideration for escorted leave has been put on hold” due to the concerns she raised. Crucially, the letter provided no indication of when this 'hold' might be lifted, leaving Alice in a state of continued uncertainty.
Alice expressed relief that escorted leave was not imminent but remains concerned it will not be long before the possibility is reconsidered by clinicians. Her mother, Sarah, highlighted the profound impact on her daughter, describing how the once “bubbly, confident and happy” woman is now “anxious, nervy and frightened,” unwilling to go out alone after dark. This incident underscores the critical importance of clear and consistent communication from official bodies when dealing with victims of serious crime, particularly concerning the movements of dangerous offenders.