A POLICE officer branded a public danger and jailed for life seven years ago for raping vulnerable women is free.
However, it has emerged despite a warning from the trial judge that the then 42-year-old would serve seven-and-a-half years behind bars before he could apply for parole, he was released.
A spokesperson for the Parole Board said: “We can confirm that a panel of the Parole Board directed the release of Mr Stephen Mitchell, following an oral hearing in September 2017.
"Parole Board decisions are solely focused on whether a prisoner would represent a significant risk to the public after release. The panel will have carefully looked at a whole range of evidence, including details of the original evidence and any evidence of behaviour change.
"We do that with great care and public safety is our number one priority.”
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