Hundreds of rapes by released sex offenders

HUNDREDS of rapes have been committed by sex offenders after they were released from prison for similar offences during the past decade.

- BY MATTHEW DAVIS

The shocking figures have sparked fears over the current Labour government’ early release programme and concern for public safety.

Latest data from the Ministry of Justice showed that from 2015 to last year, 498 people were found guilty of rape or attempted rape and already had a similar conviction on their criminal records.

This equates to almost one rape per week on average being carried out by a repeat offender, highlighting a hugely worrying potential flaw in the Government's plans to free up space in the nation’s overcrowded prisons by releasing more inmates.