CALLS are growing for a review into the “disturbing and incomprehensible” decision to release a former police officer who was jailed for life for raping and sexually assaulting vulnerable women.

Stephen Mitchell was ordered to serve two life sentences and warned he might never be freed from prison by a judge at Newcastle Crown Court in January 2011.

Mr Justice Wilkie said the Northumbria Police constable was a “ruthless sexual predator” who was a danger to women and ordered that Mitchell should serve at least seven-and-a-half years in jail before being considered for parole.

Chair of the Commons Home Affairs Committee Yvette Cooper has called for an urgent update from Justice Secretary David Gauke following reports of Mitchell’s release on parole.

She said: “This case is disturbing and incomprehensible. We urgently need to know what the Parole Board’s reasons were because to most people this really does not look like justice for victims.”