Released criminal arrested again for sexual assault just hours after his release | UK | News

The government defended the controversial early release of prisoners after it emerged that a released prisoner had allegedly sexually assaulted a woman on the day of his release.

Amari Ward, 31, was released on Tuesday under the measure, which aims to alleviate chronic overcrowding in British prisons.

But after his re-arrest, he appeared at Croydon Magistrates' Court on Thursday on charges of sexual assault and is due to appear at Maidstone Crown Court next month.

The Justice Department said the early release program was necessary because it had “inherited prisons that were in crisis and on the verge of collapse,” but stressed that all repeat offenders would be punished.

According to court documents, Ward is alleged to have “intentionally touched” a woman without her consent in Sittingbourne, Kent, on Tuesday, just hours after his release.

He was arrested when police attended an address in south London. He was subsequently charged with sexual assault, refused bail and returned to prison on Thursday.

A Ministry of Justice (MoJ) spokesman said: “The Government has inherited prisons that are in crisis and on the verge of collapse.

“If that had happened, the courts would not have been able to hold trials and the police would not have been able to make arrests.”

The spokesman said those who breach licence conditions or reoffend would be penalised.

The Conservatives had previously said the government had “poorly handled” the early release of prisoners, leading to “serious public concern” about the process.

Around 1,750 inmates were released from prisons across England and Wales early Tuesday morning.

As part of the early release program, some prisoners were released after serving 40% of their sentence instead of 50%.

There were scenes of jubilation outside some prisons as inmates released early were greeted by friends and family with cigars and bottles of champagne in hand. Others spoke of their fear of becoming homeless because there was no time to organize accommodation.

The latest version of the early release program was introduced after the general election in July, but the previous government had already begun releasing some prisoners early to address overcrowding.