THE sister of a prisoner who served 11 years after being sentenced to ten months has backed calls for Michael Presley to be released.

Presley, from Didcot, escaped prison earlier this week and recorded a video slamming his ‘disgraceful’ sentence before handing himself back in.

The 24-year-old was given a controversial indeterminate Imprisonment for Public Protection three-year sentence for GBH in 2012 and has been behind bars for five years.

April Ward, whose brother James, is due to be released after serving more than a decade following his initial ten-month sentence, said she was horrified by Michael’s ordeal.

She said: “I had goosebumps watching his video, he has clearly been pushed to this, to escape just to get his voice out.

“It’s just disgusting what he is being made to go through - it’s barbaric.”

Miss Ward said she believed a media campaign helped her brother’s case and wanted to support the Presley family in raising awareness.

She said: “James’ behaviour didn’t change over the years, he has never been a risk to society.

“We campaigned for 12 years and I believe it was media pressure that changed the Parole Board’s mind.

“Now he’s going to be released I have a bit more fight to help others.”

She has since called Michael Presley’s family to offer support and help them fight for his release.

Presley was charged with escaping lawful custody, a common law offence which has no maximum sentence.