A man who served 22 years for murder has stated he would rather be sent back to prison than continue battling the near-impossible task of finding work and stable accommodation on the outside.
A Life Sentence That Never Ends
Iain Macpherson, now 54 and from Harrow, London, was handed two life sentences with a minimum term of 12 years in February 1991. His crimes included murder under the joint enterprise law. After being moved between 22 different prisons, he was finally released in October 2014 at the age of 41.
Despite his freedom, Macpherson describes a system that seems designed for him to fail. He initially stayed at a reintegration hostel in Ealing, London, before moving in with a girlfriend in Bedford. For three years, he actively sought employment in home refurbishment and personal training, applying through eight different Job Centres.
The Impossible Search for a Second Chance
Macpherson alleges that Job Centre staff told him there was "no point" in applying for jobs due to the nature of his conviction. His attempts to become self-employed were thwarted when he received a car insurance quote of £9,800 per year for a Kia Picanto worth only £2,000, a cost directly attributed to his criminal record.
"I'd go for a job and say I have a conviction," he explained. "As soon as they learn my conviction is for murder, that's it - no job. It's impossible." After his relationship ended, he sofa-surfed at his mother's Hertfordshire flat before his situation deteriorated further, leading to anxiety, back problems, and eventual homelessness.
'At Least Inside I'd Have a Roof'
Now unemployed and alternating between couch surfing and debt-inducing hotel stays in Hertford, Hertfordshire, Macpherson's perspective is stark. "It would be easier just to be back inside, but without having to commit any crime," he stated. "Prison is horrible, and the food is disgusting, but at least I'd have a roof over my head."
He argues that his life sentence creates a permanent barrier. "Having a conviction for life makes it impossible to fit in anywhere. As soon as the local community find out about it, nobody wants you there any more." He has even asked his probation officer to recall him to prison and deliberately missed appointments to trigger a return, but to no avail.
While in custody, Macpherson earned qualifications in gardening, first aid, IT, personal training, and secured GCSEs and A-levels. He maintains he was a young, impressionable 19-year-old who fell in with the wrong crowd. Despite receiving Universal Credit and PIP, he cannot afford private rents or secure references. The council has deemed him voluntarily homeless, limiting further support.
His story highlights a critical gap in the rehabilitation system for those serving the longest sentences. "I'm basically tarred," he concluded, "and I can't blame people, it's just how it is."
