Hannah Pritchett discovered her attacker had been released from jail only five months after the fact, following what authorities acknowledged was an administrative error in the victim notification process. The 23-year-old was stabbed in May 2022 by her boss Luisa Santos while working a waitressing shift, and has since become an advocate for better victim protection in early-release schemes.
How the attack happened
Pritchett was 18 years old when Santos attacked her during her shift at the Three Horseshoes pub in Princethorpe, Warwickshire. About an hour into her working day, Santos used a fish knife to stab Pritchett in the lower back and hip, falsely accusing the teenager of having an affair with her husband. The injury was severe enough to require hospital surgery, though Pritchett later described herself as "incredibly lucky to survive" the assault.
The sentence and early release
Santos was convicted of attempted murder and received a 10-year prison sentence in October 2022. However, she was released in January 2026 under the Early Removal Scheme, a government programme that permits foreign national inmates in England and Wales to leave prison early for the purpose of deportation. According to official scheme rules, an offender removed early who returns to the UK before their sentence end date must be returned to custody. Santos served three years and eight months before her deportation and is permanently banned from returning to the United Kingdom.
The scheme itself underwent significant changes in recent months. The maximum early-removal period was expanded to four years in September 2025, and the government removed the minimum-prison-sentence requirement in January 2026, making more prisoners eligible for early departure.
The notification failure
Pritchett remained unaware of Santos's release until June 2026—five months after the January departure. The Ministry of Justice acknowledged that an administrative error in the Victims Liaison Unit and the prison itself had prevented timely notification. When Pritchett finally learned the news on what she described as "a random Tuesday in June," she felt devastated by the lack of communication.
"When you get told on a random Tuesday in June that your attacker is now out and [is not serving] their sentence any longer it makes you feel that everything you have fought for was for nothing,"
she said. The delay compounded her distress significantly.
"I went through a very difficult time when I was told my attacker was released early, especially as I found out five months after – it made things so much worse,"
Pritchett expressed frustration that the justice system had not prioritised her wellbeing, describing herself as an "afterthought" in the process.
"Receiving that news was incredibly difficult and left me feeling let down by the justice system."
Concerns about wider victim protection
Pritchett had expected Santos to remain imprisoned until 2032, giving her time to process the trauma. The early release shattered that expectation and raised broader questions about victim safety across the criminal justice system. She questioned whether hundreds of other victims would face similar notification failures as the government expanded its early-release programme.
"If someone's attacker is released in the UK, what happens if they go out one day and see them in the street without being made aware?"
she asked. Pritchett stressed that victims must be placed "at the forefront" of decisions regarding early release, rather than treated as secondary considerations.
"It was a reminder that although a sentence may come to an end, the impact on victims continues long after."
Government response and monitoring measures
A Ministry of Justice spokesperson acknowledged the severity of the crime and the failure in this case.
"This was an awful crime, and our thoughts remain with Hannah Pritchett. Keeping victims informed is a vital part of our work and we are committed to always improving our service."
The department confirmed that the administrative error had been escalated to management in both the Victims Liaison Unit and the prison involved. The government has announced new safeguards for future releases. According to the MOJ, offenders leaving prison from 1 October would be subject to the "toughest supervision" with electronic monitoring rolled out on an unprecedented scale. The department is investing £700 million in probation and community punishment services.
Additionally, victims are being offered "better practical and emotional support" through a newly launched helpline operated by Victim Support. According to government estimates, approximately 700 eligible prisoners are expected to be released on 1 October 2026, with around 2,550 released by year-end under the expanded scheme.
Pritchett's recovery and advocacy
Rather than allowing the trauma to define her future, Pritchett has channelled her experience into fundraising for knife crime prevention. She has already raised money for organisations working to reduce violence, and in April 2025 she participated in the Coventry Half Marathon with friends to support the Ben Kinsella Trust, which focuses on preventing knife crime.
Looking ahead, Pritchett plans to walk the Great Glen Way in Scotland next year, aiming to raise £5,000 and complete the challenge on the fifth anniversary of the attack in May 2027. The walk represents both a personal milestone and a continued commitment to supporting others affected by blade violence.
"Five years ago, I was incredibly fortunate to survive - five years on, I'm choosing to keep moving forward,"
she said, reflecting on her journey from victim to advocate.
Key facts
- Hannah Pritchett was stabbed by her boss Luisa Santos in May 2022 and required hospital surgery to survive the attack.
- Santos received a 10-year sentence in October 2022 but was released in January 2026 under the Early Removal Scheme for foreign nationals.
- Pritchett was not informed of the release until June 2026, five months later, due to an administrative error acknowledged by the Ministry of Justice.
- The Early Removal Scheme was expanded in 2025 and 2026, making more prisoners eligible for early departure before deportation.
- Pritchett is now fundraising for knife crime prevention charities and plans to walk the Great Glen Way in Scotland to mark five years since the attack.
