Sophie Lancaster’s campaigning mother dies ‘suddenly’ in hospital

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The campaigning mother of murdered Sophie Lancaster has died suddenly, just one month after speaking out over the jail release of one of her daughter’s attackers.

Sophie, 20, was attacked in a park in Bacup, Lancashire, with her boyfriend Robert Maltby in August 2007 after being targeted because they were dressed as goths.

Her mother Dr Sylvia Lancaster spent the next 15 years championing people from alternative subcultures and creating educational programmes to tackle prejudice.

But she passed away at Royal Blackburn Hospital in a ‘sudden and unexpected’ death early yesterday morning, having suffered from ill health for the last few years.

A statement from The Sophie Lancaster Foundation paid tribute to her as a ‘powerful life force’ and for having ‘challenged authority and fought for what she believed in’.

Sophie died from her injuries after being viciously beaten as she cradled Robert’s head in her lap in 2007. 

Just last month it emerged that one of her killers, Ryan Herbert, would be released from prison on licence following a ruling by the Parole Board.

Herbert was 16 when he was jailed in April 2008 after admitting murdering Sophie and assault causing grievous bodily harm with intent on Robert.

He was given a minimum term of 16 years and three months – later reduced to 15-and-a-half years on appeal.

In 2020, Herbert had his tariff cut to 14-and-a-half years when a High Court judge concluded he had made ‘exceptional progress’ in jail.

The Parole Board then announced on March 16 this year that Herbert had made ‘significant changes to his life which reflected his remorse, his insight and increased maturity’.

‘After considering the circumstances of his offending and examining the evidence for the progress made while in custody, the panel was satisfied that Mr Herbert was suitable for release,’ a document setting out the decision said.

But the decision enraged Dr Lancaster, who said last month that the Parole Board did not consider ‘the reality of the level of violence’ her daughter had endured.

She also said at the time: ‘The reality is obviously it’s never going to be enough.

‘He had to come out some time and unfortunately it doesn’t seem long enough but that’s the reality of the situation and you’ve got to deal with it.

‘I don’t want to waste any more time thinking about him now… Hopefully I can forget about him.’

Brendan Harris, who was found guilty of Sophie’s murder and admitted the attack on Robert, was jailed for life with a minimum term of 18 years.

He, Herbert and four other teenage boys ‘savagely and mercilessly attacked’ Robert at Stubbylee Park in Bacup during the early hours of August 11, 2007.

Gap-year student Sophie rushed to help her boyfriend as he lay unconscious and shouted at his attackers to leave him alone.

Herbert and Harris then turned on her, subjecting her to a ‘sustained and vicious attack’ which involved her head being kicked and stamped on until she too lost consciousness. Sophie never regained consciousness and died in hospital 14 days later. 

It appeared the couple were attacked because they looked and dressed differently and Herbert later told people there were ‘two moshers nearly dead’ in the park, according to court hearings.

At the time of his crimes Herbert had an ‘anti-social lifestyle’ and spent time with ‘negative friends’ who he had a ‘misguided sense of loyalty’ towards, drank and took drugs, the parole papers said.

Herbert’s behaviour behind bars had ‘initially been poor’ but this changed once he moved into an adult prison and he had taken part in rehabilitation programmes.

After being moved into an open prison in November 2020, he ‘improved his education with studies to degree level’ and had ‘fully engaged with resettlement activities’ including spending time on temporary release from jail.

He had a job and there was ‘positive feedback about his work’.

The document added: ‘No concerns about compliance had been identified and Mr Herbert had good working relationships with professional staff.’

Witnesses, including his probation officer, recommended he be released on licence. Herbert, who became eligible for release in February, will be subject to restrictions on his movements, where he lives and who he contacts.

It is not clear whether Herbert has actually yet been released from prison.

Her mother Sylvia Lancaster was a member of the Government’s hate crime advisory group and was awarded an OBE in 2014 for her campaigning on the subject.

Last night, a statement from the Sophie Lancaster Foundation said: ‘This is the hardest statement to write. It is with great shock and disbelief that we announce that Sylvia Lancaster has passed away.

‘She died early this morning in Blackburn hospital. She had suffered from ill health for the last couple of years, but her death was sudden and unexpected.

‘Sylvia had such a powerful life force; we cannot imagine a world without her in it.

‘Following Sophie’s brutal murder, Sylvia put her energy into championing people from alternative subcultures and creating educational programmes to tackle prejudice and intolerance.

‘She worked tirelessly to combat the inaccurate and lazy stereotyping that all too often leads to violent prejudice and promoted a culture of celebrating difference; something that leads to safer communities for us all. Sylvia was formidable.

‘She challenged authority and fought for what she believed in. Her legacy is that Sophie will never be forgotten, and her daughter’s name will always represent her mission – to Stamp Out Prejudice, Hatred and Intolerance Everywhere.

‘She will be sadly missed. There will be much to say over the course of the next few months. Initially all our thoughts are focused on supporting Adam and his family in the coming days and weeks. Hold those you love a little bit closer today.’