A teenager responsible for the death of a 14-year-old boy in a horrendous machete attack is to be released from prison early.

Gordon Gault’s mother said she was ‘devastated’ to learn Lawson Natty will be free to walk to streets in September.

He was jailed in March after a jury found him guilty of manslaughter for supplying Carlos Neto, also 18, the machete used in the fatal attack in November 2022.

Gordon suffered a single stab wound to his upper right arm in the Elswick area of Newcastle and died in hospital six days later.

Gordon Gault Gordon Gault (Image: Contributor) Carlos Neto and Lawson Natty Carlos Neto and Lawson Natty (Image: Contributor) Neto, from Manchester, was jailed for nine years and two months, while Natty, from Newcastle, received a sentence of two years and eight months.

Gordon’s mother Dionne Barrett, from Benwell, received confirmation of Natty’s early release in writing from HM Prison and Probation Service at the weekend.

The letter said: “Due to significant issues within the prison population, the Lord Chancellor has announced plans to introduce a change to the law which will allow some prisoners serving determined sentence to be released on license early.

“Prisoners who meet the criteria will be released after serving 40 per cent of their sentence in custody rather than the 50 per cent they serve now.

“These changes are due to happen from September so no prisoner will be released under the scheme prior to that time.

“We have been advised that Lawson Natty meets the criteria for this scheme so I’m writing to inform you that the release will be brought forward. The revised release date will be in the week beginning September 9, 2024.”

The letter said Natty will be managed by the Probation Service and subject to licence conditions.

He will be required to comply with all conditions and failure to do so could result in him being sent back to prison.

The letter ended by saying: “I appreciate that this news will be unwelcome.”

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Dionne Barrett Dionne Barrett (Image: Contributor) Dionne, who is backing the Northern Echo’s anti-knife crime campaign calling for tougher sentences for offenders, said she ‘could not understand it’.

She said: “They rang me on Friday and said he was getting out because of the overcrowding and then they put it in writing to me.

“Fair enough letting petty criminals out for shoplifting but he has been done for manslaughter and he has only done a few months.

“I just cannot get my head around it.

“This is the same week those girls were murdered in Southport and he is getting out. What kind of example is that?”

The Northern Echo:

Dionne said her family already felt ‘robbed’ when the jury failed to convict the pair for murder.

She added: “We are absolutely devastated.

“We have had not justice whatsoever for Gordon.”

The Ministry of Justice said the Government has had to take action to ensure there are enough prison places so police can continue to take dangerous criminals off the streets and keep the public safe.

A spokesperson said: "All offenders released on licence are subject to strict conditions and we do not hesitate to recall them to custody if they break the rules.”