A CON freed from jail early under emergency laws was back behind bars within 12 hours after attacking a neighbour, it has emerged.
The thug was one of 477 lags sprung this summer by SNP ministers to ease overcrowding in prisons.
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But the crook, who had a week shaved off his sentence, was hauled back behind bars after becoming violent following a boozing session.
Malcolm Paul, who helps run a prison-based charitable education programme Heavy Sound, had been helping the criminal.
He told how plans in place with social workers were upended by the early release — meaning the lout went straight to the pub and started drinking.
He said: “He ended up getting put somewhere to stay and assaulting one of his neighbours and is now looking at a long-term sentence. He was back in prison within 12 hours.”
Justice Secretary Angela Constance said last month those serving sentences of under four years would have their automatic release point cut from half their term to 40 per cent.
A further 390 cons will be let out after MSPs pass emergency legislation — despite one in nine of the first tranche being recalled for reoffending.
Some 171 inmates were blocked from leaving in summer after governors deemed them a risk to public safety.
Scottish Tory justice spokesman Liam Kerr said: “These astonishing stats lay bare the recklessness of the SNP’s early-release scheme.”
Kate Wallace, chief executive of Victim Support Scotland, told 1919 Magazine: “We feel strongly that any future early release proposals should continue to contain this safeguard.”
The Scottish Prison Service said: “Where governors concluded, with the help of intelligence from police and social work, that someone posed an immediate risk to themselves or others, their early release was vetoed.”
A Scottish Government spokesman said: “Post-release support was available and included support with access to housing, healthcare and welfare.”
