My long drawn-out release

David Sellu

Surgeon Mr David Sellu, convicted for gross negligence manslaughter of a patient – overturned on appeal after a 30-month prison sentence – continues his story from last month.

After nine months behind bars, I was allowed home on temporary leave. This meant getting clearance from my probation officer, who was tasked with visiting the house to make sure there was no reason not to go back there. 

There were rules to obey:

I was to be picked up at 8.30am and brought back at 3.30pm on the day of return. I was allowed only two nights at home the first time and then three nights on subsequent visits, subject to my complying with all regulations.

I was permitted to take out small items such as a toothbrush and shaving gear and a restricted number of items of clothing, all of which I had to declare before I left. 

I was to return with the exact articles and each item would be checked to make sure it tallied with the leaving inventory. I was to get clearance from the health centre that I was fit to travel out and, soon after return, I was to report there to be verified free of illness. 

I had to report to my probation officer on the day I came home to inform him that I had made it to the designated location and I had to spend all my nights in that location until I returned to prison. I was to refrain from logging on to the internet and from engaging in all social media activities. 

I was not allowed to drink alcohol. It was possible the probation officer could call on me any time, day or night, to ensure I was in full compliance and any deviation from the rules could see me forcibly returned behind bars and with penalties. 

I could see my car on the drive as we drove up. The battery had died, as the car hadn’t been driven but had been declared off road with the DVLA and the insurance suspended. 

Interestingly, the car insurance company did not have any problem with the fact that I was serving a prison sentence and were happy for me to resume my policy once I was out and ready to have the car back on the road.