Prisoner charged with sexual assaulting woman just HOURS after being released from jail early under Starmer's release scheme
Prisoners were released early on Tuesday as part of Labour's efforts to free up jail spaces
PA
A man who was released from prison on early release this week is alleged to have committed sexual assault on the exact same day.
It is understood the man was released as part of the Government's early release scheme on Tuesday which was introduced by Labour in a bid to ease prison overcrowding.
The man is accused of having reoffended in Sittingbourne in Kent just hours after being set free from prison.
According to the Daily Mail, an official log of the incident states: "At approx 10.30hrs [the released prisoner] was being escorted by an OSG [operational support grade] in a pool car to Sittingbourne station following his release under SDS40.
Prisoners were released early on Tuesday as part of Labour's efforts to free up jail spaces PA"During the journey it was alleged that [he] sexually assaulted the OSG.
"[He] vacated the vehicle and his whereabouts are unknown at this time."
The man was later arrested at an address in south London after catching a train to the Capital.
He appeared at a magistrate’s court on Thursday charged with sexual assault.
The man is due to appear in crown court in October and has been recalled to prison in the meantime.
Critics of Labour's early release scheme had warned that there was a risk of a huge surge in re-offending.
Speaking to GB News on Chopper's Political Podcast this week, Conservative leadership frontrunner Robert Jenrick even warned that people could die as a result of the policy.
He said: "We should be locking up more hyper prolific offenders to get dangerous people off our streets. What Keir Starmer is doing is very dangerous.
"Thugs and criminals are now being let out onto our streets and I predict that people could die as a result of these decisions.
"I don't pretend these are easy decisions to make but I do not see evidence that Keir Starmer is straining every sinew to prevent this."
Robert Jenrick told GB News on Chopper's Political Podcast that he feared people would die because of early release
GB NEWSA Ministry of Justice spokesperson said: "The Government inherited prisons in crisis and on the brink of collapse.
"Had that happened, the courts would have been unable to hold trials and the police to make arrests.
"We had no choice but to introduce emergency measures, releasing some prisoners a few weeks or months early, while excluding a number of offences and imposing strict licence conditions.
"While we cannot comment on the details of any single case, those who break their licence conditions or commit further crimes will be punished."