Is Tracie Andrews Still in Prison? Where She Is Now
Last reviewed: June 2026
This page sets out who Tracie Andrews is, the crime she was convicted of, when and why she was released, and what “released on licence” actually means for someone serving a life sentence. The convictions and sentence described here are established facts.
What did Tracie Andrews do?
In December 1996, Andrews killed her fiancé, Lee Harvey, in Worcestershire. She initially claimed he had been the victim of a road-rage attack by an unknown driver — an account she maintained publicly, including at a televised police appeal. The investigation disproved her story, and she was found guilty of murder on 29 July 1997 after a trial. The case became one of the most widely reported British murders of the 1990s, partly because of the false road-rage narrative she had constructed.
Her sentence and release
Andrews was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 14 years. Having served that minimum tariff, she was released on licence in 2011 from HMP Askham Grange. Reporting at the time noted that she had reverted to using a different name on release, which is common for people leaving prison after high-profile cases.
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| Dec 1996 | Lee Harvey killed |
| 29 July 1997 | Convicted of murder; life sentence, 14-year minimum |
| 2011 | Released on licence from HMP Askham Grange |
| 2026 | Living in the community on lifelong licence |
- “She is still locked up.” She was released in 2011 and is not in prison.
- “Released means her sentence is over.” No. A life sentence never ends; she is on licence for life and subject to conditions and possible recall.
- “A 14-year minimum means she had to serve exactly 14 years.” The minimum term is the earliest point release can be considered; release still depends on a risk assessment.
What does “released on licence” mean?
When a life-sentence prisoner is released, they are not free in the way someone who has completed a fixed sentence is. They remain on licence permanently, with conditions that can include supervision by probation, residence requirements, exclusion zones and restrictions on contact. If any condition is breached, they can be recalled to custody immediately. This is the same framework that applies to other high-profile life-sentence prisoners. For more on how release and supervision work, see the Parole Board.
Where is Tracie Andrews now?
Since her release she has lived in the community under a new name and has largely stayed out of the public eye. Prison Guide does not publish private location details about released individuals. What can be said is that she remains subject to her life licence.
Why the case is still remembered
The Tracie Andrews case endures in the public memory for two reasons. First, the false road-rage story she told — and repeated at a police press conference while visibly distressed — became a textbook example of how an invented account can briefly mislead an investigation before forensic and witness evidence unravels it. Second, the case has featured in television documentaries revisiting notable British murders, which periodically renews public interest and prompts people to search for what happened to her. At the centre of it all remains Lee Harvey, whose family lived through both the loss and the false narrative before the truth was established in court.
Frequently asked questions
Is Tracie Andrews in prison in 2026?
No. She was released on licence in 2011 and is living in the community.
How long did she serve?
She served her 14-year minimum term before being released in 2011.
Can she be sent back to prison?
Yes. As a life-sentence prisoner on licence, she can be recalled if she breaches her conditions.
Did she change her name?
Reporting at the time of her release indicated she did, which is common for people leaving prison after notorious cases.
Sources: Tracie Andrews (Wikipedia); contemporaneous court and news reporting.
