IAN BROWN is to be released from Strangeways prison on December 22.
As previously reported in NME, the singer was only expected to serve half his four month sentence for threatening behaviour meted out by Manchester Magistrates' Court in October.
As a result, with continued good behaviour, he is due to be released on parole, and will be able to spend Christmas at home in Sale, Cheshire.
Brown's guitarist Aziz Ibrahim told NME that Ian's first priority when he is released is to spend time with his sons Casey, five, and Frankie, seven.
"Ian's kids will be overjoyed to have him back," Ibrahim said. "Ian will be happy to be with them. Anyone who's got any heart would make sure he'd be home for Christmas."
A spokeswoman for Brown said: "I'm sure he's been a good boy, so he should be due out then or maybe the day after. We've not heard anything official from his lawyers, but that's the date he's told all his friends. It'll be a brilliant Christmas present for everyone."
Brown is due to embark on a major UK tour in February, which was delayed from November following his imprisonment.
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