Early Release Prisoner Charged with Sexual Assault on Day of Freedom

Amari Ward, released under a government scheme to ease prison overcrowding, allegedly reoffended within hours of his release.

Amari Ward, 31, was released as part of an early release scheme aimed at reducing prison overcrowding in England and Wales.
Ward allegedly sexually assaulted a woman at Sittingbourne Station in Kent just hours after his release.
The Ministry of Justice defended the scheme, citing the need to prevent the collapse of the prison system.
Ward was arrested in south London and charged with sexual assault; he has been recalled to prison and denied bail.
The early release policy excludes terrorists and sex offenders but allows some violent offenders serving less than four years to be freed early.