A SURVIVOR of domestic abuse was left fearing for her life after her violent ex-partner was freed from prison early by mistake.
He was one of 37 prisoners wrongly released under a scheme to ease overcrowding.
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Due to a sentencing gaffe Duane Meggitt, 32, and the other cons had not been recorded as domestic abusers — who are not eligible for early release under the plans.
He was jailed for nine months in August for common assault and breaching a restraining order.
The woman he abused was told on September 10 Meggitt would be freed two days later.
He was recalled to HMP Leicester four days later on September 16.
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But in the time he was free the woman, aged 27, said she was too scared to leave her house and had suffered terrible nightmares.
She said: “It’s blatantly obvious that he doesn’t take any notice of the criminal justice system.
“I was constantly having panic attacks and feared he was going to turn up at my house to kill me or he was going to kidnap my son.
“I kept us locked in with the blinds and curtains shut because I didn’t want him turning up and seeing that we were there.”
Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood had promised that anyone in prison for domestic abuse offences would be excluded from the policy to release thousands after serving 40 per cent of their sentences.
In a letter to the woman the Ministry of Justice said: “A review is underway to understand the circumstances of this error.
“Please accept our sincerest apologies for any upset or anxiety this may have caused you.”
Five of those who were released by accident are yet to be found.
The MoJ said: “We are working with the police to urgently return a very small number of offenders to custody.
“The convictions remain valid with offenders monitored since release and they will soon be back behind bars.”
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Sex rap lag ‘out in error’
A LAG alleged to have sexually assaulted a woman within an hour of being released early from prison was freed by mistake.
Amari Ward, 31, was let out this month as part of the Government’s scheme to free up space in jails.
It has since emerged he should not have been eligible for release because he was behind bars for breaching a restraining order.
Ward has since been charged with sexual assault on a female and will next appear at Maidstone crown court on October 10.
An MoJ spokesman said: “While we cannot comment on the details of any single case, those who break their licence conditions or commit further crimes will be punished.”
By Julia Atherley
