Gaie Delap, a 78-year-old grandmother, is finally free after being imprisoned due to an electronic tag controversy. She plans to sue the contractors involved.
Gaie, 78, is back home after spending weeks in Eastwood Park prison. She was recalled because probation contractors couldn’t find a small enough tag for her wrist.
She plans to take legal action against Serco, the company responsible for the tags. Gaie believes she was treated unfairly and shouldn’t have been imprisoned.
During her time in prison, she missed Christmas and her birthday. Supporters held a vigil outside the prison, showing their solidarity.
Gaie was part of a climate protest that blocked the M25 in November 2022. She was sentenced to 20 months in prison in August 2024.
After serving three and a half months, she was supposed to be monitored at home. However, the tag company couldn’t fit a tag on her ankle due to a medical condition.
Instead of bringing a smaller wrist tag, they reported that she refused to wear one. This led to a warrant for her arrest.
Despite the challenges, a crowdfunding campaign raised money for her legal fight. Gaie expressed gratitude for the support she received.
Her MP, Carla Denyer, welcomed her release and highlighted the issues with the monitoring system. Friends and family are relieved to have her back home.