A TEENAGER from Bridgwater has vowed to take action in support of a jailed friend who has refused an early release through fear of reoffending.

Lorna Rosthorn, 19, believes the justice system is failing young people by not doing enough to help them avoid committing further offences when they are released from prison.

She says her best friend, who is currently behind bars, has refused an early release because he fears the environment he will come out to will cause him to reoffend.

Lorna said: “My best friend is currently in prison - he doesn't want to reoffend or repeat his behaviour.

“He could have been let out early on a tag but feels he will breach it and that there isn't the support to help him stop reoffending and get out of the cycle he is in.

“It makes me upset and angry. Angry because he's not getting the support he needs to deal with his issues, and upset because I don't get to see him and obviously I miss him.”

Lorna is planning to highlight the needs of young offenders, and push for a scheme which offers them greater support to build a new life on the outside, by producing a short film.

Working with Fixers, a national movement committed to “fixing the future” for young people, she aims to present her project to MPs and youth offending teams.

Lorna added: “It's a mixture of rap, poetry and a music video. The film is going to be based on youth offending and I am going to screen it to anyone who can have an impact on this.

“I hope there will be a new scheme set up to help people who come out of prison, particularly young people, to help them turn around their lives and make better decisions.”

Tom Whitworth of the Somerset Youth Offending Team, said: “The youth reoffending rates are quite low but, once children get to court and then get into custody, they're quite high.

“About three quarters reoffend who've been released from custody, which doesn't really help young people.”