Rapper's Disgrace: Violent Offender AKIM NICHOLSON Asks About Early Release Scheme As He Gets Four Years Jail For Armed Stand-off and Revenge Porn

Hi and welcome to this JK B'HAM Crime Report for VPN: REGIONAL NETWORKS

“Do I get that 40 per cent release?” asks Akim Nicholson, revenge porn fugitive who assaulted cops, as he receives his 4-year sentence.

A violent Birmingham man who threatened to stab a police officer in the neck asked the judge if he was eligible for early release while being sentenced for his latest string of crimes.

35-year-old AKIM 'KEEMO' NICHOLSON had recently been found guilty of sharing a private sexual video of his victim online, tagging her in the footage and urging others to spread it further. He had called her names and callously taunted her with messages telling her what he had done.

Rather than expressing remorse at trial, Nicholson was seen mocking and smirking during her testimony, forcing the court to take extra measures to protect her from further emotional harm.

In victim impact statements, Nicholson’s victim described feeling “very degraded and embarrassed, angry, hurt, let down,” and expressed a desire to “move house” and “leave [her] job” as a result of his actions. She testified in court about voice notes he sent, boasting how the video was being shared in various cities, making her feel like her life was being torn apart.

However, bringing 'Keemo' to trial for these offences was a challenge in itself, as the wanted man had been in hiding until his January arrest.

Spotted by chance by officers at The Kingstanding Inn, Nicholson resisted arrest, injuring and threatening officers in a dramatic 6-hour stand-off.

With so much effort having been put into arresting Nicholson and bringing him to justice, Early Release may not have been the first thing to come to mind to those at court.

But after his sentence was announced, Nicholson asked: "Judge, how long have I got? Can you make it clear?"

Judge Paul Farrer KC repeated that he would serve up to half of the four-year time in custody before being released on licence.

Nicholson confirmed : "Do I get that 40 per cent release or na?"

The judge pointed out that it was not a matter for the court to decide, although the sexual nature of his offending make it unlikely that will qualify for the current SDS40 scheme to release offenders on licence after serving 40% of their prison time, instead of the 50% typical of many offences.

Regarding mitigating circumstances at sentencing, Judge Farrer accepted that the defendant had suffered from poor mental health and ongoing trauma after facing multiple adverse circumstances, including an upbringing without a father, who had been deported, and time served in prison at age 15 for a crime he didn’t commit.

However, at sentencing, the judge found no evidence to suggest that the defendant was unable to understand how wrong his actions were, and therefore his mental health difficulties did not excuse him from being judged and sentenced in the same way as anyone else.

As a musician, Nicholson's music career has had frequent interruptions.

His music references discusses his colourful, non law-abiding lifestyle including his once budding football career, his long-term struggles, and his hopes and dreams including his desire for his children to stayed in school.

Frequently in and out of prison, he was subjected to several vicious attacks behind bars, experiencing flashbacks.

He has frequently made references to turning negatives from his past into positives, but his latest offences suggest his achilles heel has been pointless spiteful acts, association with criminals, and that he sets himself back by his lack of respect for the law.

Nicholson, whose long and varied criminal record includes kidnap, robbery, smashing up a courtroom, and even trashing his own mother’s house, received his four-year sentence via video link from Birmingham Crown Court for offences including affray, revenge porn, and threatening officers with a knife.

While he may not be eligible for this current scheme, due to the current prison situation, Early Release schemes such as SDS40 are here to stay, and the second phase of the 40% release scheme, where it extends to inmates with sentences of 5 years who meet the eligibility criteria, will be rolled out on 28th October. These schemes are not capable of solving the current crisis but are a short-term solution, with some arguing that they can promote rehabilitation efforts made difficult by overcrowded prison environments.

The essential deterrent effect of prison requires adequate prison places, and realistically, the UK is not going to be able to increase the number of full prison places for many years.

Existing buildings cannot be converted to be used as prisons, as modern prisons require very specific designs, which, among other factors, require not only security measures to prevent escapes but also safety aspects to minimise the risk of injury if an escape attempt is made.

The recent case of a prisoner who received a large payout from the state after having been paralysed by a knife attack, which took place as inmates were carrying out kitchen tasks, highlights the costs of safeguarding failures.

These factors make Home Detention and Virtual Prison Sentences increasingly likely in the future. Existing schemes allow eligible individuals to be transferred from prison to Home Detention Curfews after serving 20% of their sentences, effectively doing prison time in their own homes. But the pressure is on for this to become the first resort for many offenders, especially those with good rehabilitation prospects.

But for now, there is little change for many of the 83,000+ men - and 5,000+ women - currently serving a custodial sentence, and little change for Nicholson, who has been on remand in HMP Birmingham for 8 months since his arrest and who can expect not to be out for another 16 months, not the 11 months which would remain if he was to serve only 40% and not 50% of the 4-year sentence he has already partially served.

Well, that’s all for now. But until our next article, please stay tuned, stay informed, but most of all stay safe, and I’ll see you then.

Jason King

Birmingham City-Desk

Twitter (X) @JasonKingNews

Jasonkingnews@gmail.com