A killer has had his transfer to an open prison blocked after being unmasked as a drill rapper whose lyrics appeared to glorify his murder of a schoolboy.
Jake Fahri killed 16-year-old Jimmy Mizen in 2008 by throwing a glass dish at him which shattered and severed blood vessels in his neck.
He was jailed for life and ordered to serve a minimum term of 14 years for the attack, which took place at a south London bakery.
Fahri, now 36, was released on licence at the end of that tariff in June 2023 but was recalled last January after The Sun published a story about him being the masked drill artist Ten.
Ten was showcased on BBC 1Xtra, and one of the balaclava-clad rapper’s track available on Spotify and YouTube appeared to reference Jimmy’s death.
In the summary of a Parole Board decision, it said Fahri accepted he was Ten but disputed the music was ‘about his own life’.
The board said he should not be released, but could be moved to an open prison, which have minimal security and allow eligible prisoners to spend most of their day out of prison on licence.
‘The panel determined that Mr Fahri needed to reflect on his attitude, thinking and behaviour, so that he could better understand himself, including why he failed to be open and honest with the professionals managing his case,’ the written decision said.
‘It considered that this could be achieved in an open prison and recommended that Mr Fahri should be progressed in this way.’
Jimmy’s mum Margaret, 73, told The Sun on Friday she was ‘shocked’ to find out that the Parole Board had recommended the move and said she was glad Deputy Prime Minister and Justice Secretary David Lammy rejected the recommendation.
A spokesperson for the MoJ said: ‘Jimmy Mizen’s murder was a horrific crime, and our thoughts remain with his friends and family.
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‘Public protection is our top priority, which is why the Deputy Prime Minister has blocked Jake Fahri’s transfer to open conditions.’
Prisoners eligible for release to open conditions must meet certain conditions, including being at low risk of absconding.
Ms Mizen said Mr Lammy’s decision shows Fahri has ‘not changed his attitude’.
‘I would much prefer this decision didn’t have to be made because he would have turned his life around. I’m really sad that he hasn’t,’ she told the newspaper.
‘It goes to show that the things which have been said about him over the years are probably true.
‘He got into the witness box at his trial and lied through his teeth. Clearly, he hasn’t changed, and I’m glad the Justice Secretary has seen through it.’
While Fahri was out on licence, he was reportedly pictured with England footballer Marcus Rashford, with the killer wearing a balaclava.
The Daily Mail reported that in a statement on his Instagram story last January, Rashford said: ‘I want to make it clear I have never seen this photo, I do not know this person and I am not friends with him.
‘Like most footballers if someone asks for a photo with me, I will never refuse but I am obviously not able to do a background check on every individual that asks me for a photo.’
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