Romeo Cummins, jailed for horrific sex crimes, requested a review for early release, causing distress to his victims.
Cummins, who is 54, lived in Popley. He admitted to many crimes in court. These included 16 rapes and one sexual assault. He also pleaded guilty to five drug offenses.
Cummins targeted vulnerable women from 2013 to 2016. He acted like he cared about them, a court heard. He then abused their trust and sexually assaulted them. He filmed the unconscious women.
One victim, Natasha Jones, contacted the Gazette. She learned Cummins wanted early release in February, after serving nine years. She struggled to write a statement for the hearing, as it forced her to relive the trauma. She then discovered the hearing happened early in October 2024, without her knowledge.
Natasha waived her right to anonymity. She thinks Cummins should stay in prison. She relives the horror every time he asks for parole. She had to watch videos of his attacks on her and identify herself while unconscious. His self-satisfaction haunts her daily.
Natasha moved away to start over. She spoke out about poor communication and expressed anger that the system failed her. It failed to keep her informed or protect her. She asked for a witness statement deadline but never received one, so the hearing went ahead. She worries she must do this yearly, meaning she won’t be free from him.
Natasha thinks Cummins is dangerous. “I will try to keep him in prison,” she said. “No therapy can heal this evil.”
The Ministry of Justice apologized to Natasha. They said Cummins’ crimes were awful. They will investigate how this happened and prevent it from happening again.
The Ministry stated lifers are only released with Parole Board approval. The Parole Board decides if they are a risk to the public and need to complete a minimum time served first.
The Secretary of State must send the cases to the Parole Board every two years as a minimum standard. The Parole Board reviews their detention.
Probation supervises released offenders and sets strict rules. These rules involve movements and contact with others. They can go back to jail for breaking rules or if they pose a greater risk.
The Ministry of Justice said public safety is their priority. Ministers now check the release of dangerous offenders. The Victims and Prisoners Act made this possible. Ministers can send cases to the High Court for review. This gives more oversight of serious offenders.
The Parole Board denied Cummins’ release. A panel refused moving him to open prison too, after a review done in October. The Parole Board focuses on the risk to the public. They consider the risk, if a prisoner is released, and if the community can manage this risk.
The panel looks at details of the crime, behavior changes, and the harm done to victims. The Ministry of Justice will set a date for a future review. Cummins will be eligible for another review later on.