Ryan Cooper, who was sentenced to 6 years behind bars for killing Isle of Wight man Gary ‘Jeff’ Stacey with a single punch, has been released from prison, Island Echo can reveal.
Cooper, who was just 20 at the time of the incident on Valentine’s Day 2016, was released under licence on Tuesday (26th May).
The former law student was charged with manslaughter after Gary Stacey – known as Jeff – died just days after being found with life-threatening injuries on St James’ Street in Newport. Cooper admitted punching the 49-year-old, who hit his head on the pavement with such force that it caused a fatal bleed on the brain.
Following a lengthy Police investigation and a 2-week criminal trial, Cooper was found guilty of manslaughter and sentenced to 6 years in prison in April 2017.
Island Echo understands from the Stacey family that one of the licensing conditions imposed on Cooper is that he is not allowed on the Isle of Wight, where a large number of Mr Stacey’s family live. Jeff was a father to 10 children.
The Ministry of Justice has been unable to comment on the specifics of this individual case.
Anyone who sees Ryan Cooper on the Isle of Wight should call Police on 101. He will be recalled to prison if found on the Island.
It is almost 2 years ago that Cooper attempted to have his conviction overturned, but the Court of Appeal threw the case out. It was being argued that information on Cooper’s cocaine consumption should not have been disclosed to the jury.


























































































If you do the crime do the time
6 yrs!!!! He was convicted in 2017 so why is he being released in 2020?
It is now a rule that ALL prison sentences are subject to a 50% reduction with the other 50% served on licence. It is wrong in my opinion but those are the rules these days.
You only serve half if you behave yourself in the jail, the other half is served out on license with conditions.
The reason you only serve half is because they use the other half as a remission , like an incentive to behave in prison. For example if everybody served their full term then they’d have nothing to lose and would be less likely to engage in rehabilitation etc It’s the way it’s been for years – it used to be a third off but they changed it in the 90’s due to the then Labour government creating an extra 200* crimes (or whatever it was 200 is not accurate but it was quite a few) and thus a dangerous level of prison overcrowding began – hence its now half off. I think over a certain level it is still a third off which they must have put up for it to include 6 years as it used to be sentences of over 5 years would only receive a third off.
Hope that helps
Who’s going to give him a job, I suppose the tax payers will have to fund his damaged life.
What a bloody waste of what could have been a productive life, I hope he realizes how much pain he has inflicted on the family of his victim.
That’s the problem with druggies… they don’t give a shit about anything except where they’re going to get the money for their next fix..I know 1st hand, my stepson is one..
He can walk the streets sniffing cocaine and being Billy big balls ….wot about my brother took away from this earth just because he was in the wrong place at the wrong time the little prick should spend the rest of his life behind bars where all animals r kept…but do you know the worst thing about all this there never been a story about the family or the impact the death of Jeff has had on every one or the fact 3 people r living a better life because off being given Jeff’s organ’s . No it’s all about poor Ryan cooper ..the poor hard done by b…… who can walk talk and live his life.
Why was this scum released, even the 6 years would have been to short. Maybe he will get a punch wherever he decides or is told to live.
3 years for killing someone.
Am I missing something here???.
Whether he meant to or not is irrelevant, he should still be doing a longer stretch inside.
The system is massively flawed.
This is what happens in a far left liberaliesed country..No justice for the victims.
I am divided on this one. This young man had a good career and future ahead of him, I’m sure there are many who have thrown a punch and were lucky it didn’t end up with a similar outcome. Should he be punished and have this held against him for the rest of his life? I don’t believe so. However if it was my husband/son he had punched resulting in his death I appreciate I would feel differently.
He was an adult and knew right from wrong. He took an innocent life. He should be taught, like anyone else who attacks people, you do the crime then you do the time. Very simple
Why have you said that then if you would feel different if you family, pointless
I was simply trying to point out it is a very complex situation and I can see both sides of this extremely sad story.
Sorry but just because he ‘had a good future’ ahead of him excuses nothing! The fact he’s near on getting away with it is disgusting. He took someone’s life, their actual life and left 10 children without a father and you think he shouldn’t spend the rest of his life paying for it? That really worries me. Not a complex situation at all, he committed a crime and should be punished for it. 3 years is not enough and I’m sure you’d say the same of it were your dad, or brother etc.
Bullshit, what about the junior doctor who stabbed her boyfriend to death, she was let off so she could continue to practise medicine! Its a bloody farce! She should have been jailed and Ryan Cooper should have done his whole sentence! There are no consequences to actions in this country and you get away with acting like a coke filled moron!
There is just no justice in instances like this. The vile individual may of had a ‘life ahead of himself’, but so did poor Jeff. He had children. I cannot imagine how they must be feeling. I hope people consider Jeff’s family before sharing this link, as it will undoubtably trigger so much for the his poor family.
Poor soul. Rest easy Jeff. Condolences to all whom loved this man.
Should be a life sentence for taking a life!
But you will always get the “Do Gooders” saying let him out, let him rot!!
How right you are Salty, These are the ones who are to blame for the souring crime rates and the little feral shits doing as they like. We need eye for an eye ways to urgently return as a deterrent.
Coke consumption? an illegal drug! Should automatically double the sentence.
When this fringe gets punched in the face bet he walks around like a cabbage for the rest of his life,
He deserves to be locked up. He bullied me for years and years making me feel so small.
Hey island echo STOP taking down peoples comments (mine) people wanna read about these every day low life scum bags 3 yrs pissing joke
I don’t think he would ever come here even if allowed. Pointless restriction. He knows he’ll not last long if found here. Was a scumbag trying to appeal it.
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good ol british justice we know how to punish…3 years for killing someone brilliant… could,nt make it up in america would of gone down 20/30 years god we are so weak its imbarrasing…