A mother of three, Hayley Johns, has expressed her anger and disbelief after her abusive ex-boyfriend, Matthew Kowal, was released from prison just three months into a three-year sentence.
The reason for his early release? Prison overcrowding.
Kowal, who had been convicted of assaulting Johns, was freed in February 2025 after only serving a fraction of his sentence.
For Hayley, this means living in constant fear, with her home now equipped with alarms and security cameras to protect her family.
The Impact of Kowal’s Release on Hayley
“I couldn’t believe it when I was told,” Hayley said, recalling the moment she learned Kowal was being let out.
She explained how she felt completely betrayed by the justice system, especially after such a short time behind bars.
She was told by her victim liaison officer that Kowal’s release was due to the overcrowded conditions at HMP Nottingham.
For Hayley, this news was nothing short of terrifying, leaving her in a constant state of anxiety as she now fears for her safety.
With her daughter asking about the sudden increase in security measures at home, Hayley struggles to explain the situation.
“I just feel like as a victim, I’m invisible,” she added, “while he walks free, probably moving on to the next victim.”
Kowal’s History of Abuse and the Justice System’s Response
Matthew Kowal, 34, was convicted in November 2024 for one count of actual bodily harm and another of common assault, after years of abusing Hayley.
Despite being sentenced to three years in prison, Kowal’s release came just weeks after the conviction.
Hayley was horrified when she received a call informing her of his early release date.
As a result, she reached out to her local MP, Jonathan Davies, to escalate the issue.
Hayley also contacted government officials, including safeguarding minister Jess Phillips and Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood, demanding answers about the release and what safeguards were in place for her and her children.
An Abusive Relationship Turns Into a Nightmare
Hayley’s relationship with Kowal began during the pandemic when they both worked at the same company.
She described Kowal as charming at first, but within months, his abusive behavior started to surface.
“It was a whirlwind romance, but then the darkness emerged,” she explained.
The first incident of physical violence happened on New Year’s Eve in 2020, when Kowal became enraged after Hayley confronted him about sending inappropriate pictures to another woman.
Though Kowal apologized and promised it wouldn’t happen again, the abuse continued for years. Hayley told MailOnline that she kept taking Kowal back, partly because she was scared that involving the authorities would result in her losing custody of her children.
She tried to help him, believing his issues were something she could fix.
The Final Straw and Kowal’s Arrest
The turning point for Hayley came in March 2024 when Kowal barricaded her in a bedroom.
She attempted to escape and ended up hospitalized.
“That’s when I realized he had total control over me,” she said.
This was the moment Hayley knew she had to report him, fearing he would eventually end up taking her life.
Kowal was arrested shortly afterward, and his sentence began.
However, his release after just three months has shattered Hayley’s sense of safety. “It’s terrifying. I just can’t understand how he can walk free so quickly after what he did to me,” she said.
The Loophole in Sentencing and the Fight for Change
It’s been revealed that Kowal benefited from early release schemes designed to address prison overcrowding, including the Home Detention Curfew scheme and the SDS40 scheme.
These schemes allow inmates to be released after serving 40% of their sentence, instead of the usual 50%.
However, domestic abusers like Kowal are supposed to be exempt from such early releases, but due to the nature of his charges, Kowal was still eligible.
Liberal Democrat MP Josh Babarinde has called the situation a national scandal.
He has been campaigning for the government to create a specific set of domestic abuse aggravated offences in the law, which would offer greater protection to victims like Hayley.
What Happens Next?
Despite the overwhelming sense of injustice, Hayley continues to speak out, hoping her experience will serve as a warning to other women.
She’s determined to make sure Kowal doesn’t find new victims, even as she faces the challenge of living in fear every day.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Justice insists that Kowal’s release included strict licensing conditions, including an electronically monitored curfew.
However, Hayley’s concerns remain, as she feels these measures are not enough to guarantee her safety.
Hayley’s case highlights a growing issue with the way the justice system handles domestic abuse cases, and she continues to push for change.
“I’ve been completely let down by the system,” she said, as she tries to protect her family while grappling with the trauma of her past.
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