A brutal thug who left a 74-year-old man begging for his life has been granted home leave just months into a four-and-a-half year prison sentence.
Ryan Jendrycha, 29, and accomplice Gary Ironside, forced their way into Alexander Lees’ home in Dundee in July 2014 and punched and kicked him as he lay on the floor, leading to cries of “why, why, why me?” from the pensioner.
A court heard it was a case of “mistaken identity” as the pair had been hunting for Jendrycha’s ex-partner Samantha Jordan, who had lived in the same street.
The pair were jailed for a total of nine years combined last May, but it has emerged that Jendrycha has already been enjoying days out of prison to spend time with loved ones.
One post on his Facebook page last week included a collection of photos of him on what was described as a “lovely family day out”, having been granted home leave, despite not having yet served a year of his sentence.
Ms Jordan, 25, who may leave the country to feel safe, said of his away days: “It is disgusting. How is it possible for someone to be sentenced to four-and-a-half years and get time out in less than a year?
“The impact of what he has done is still being felt by everyone involved.”
“I feel like he is getting off with it. Mr Lees was forced to give up his house — at that age he had to basically start his whole life again.”
Patrick Delargey, senior manager of Age Concern Dundee, said that special support was needed for elderly victims of crime and that seeing an assailant walking free could have a detrimental impact upon their recovery.”