Early launch prisoner commits startling crime spree 24 hours after strolling free
A registered sex offender has embarked on a wild shoplifting spree only 24 hours after being released from jail in the government’s early release scheme
Michael Bogle, 38
A serial re-offender has been thrown back behind bars only days after walking free in the government’s new early prisoner release scheme.
Michael Bogle, 38, was caught on CCTV shoplifting from two supermarkets in north-west London within 24 hours of his release last Thursday from HMP Wandsworth.
He stole more than £100 of washing powder from Sainsbury’s only 24 hours after walking free from prison. He then went on to snatch another £98.85 of washing detergent from Tesco over the next three days.
Store employees stated he had “continued shoplifting throughout the weekend”. The serial shoplifter was arrested on Monday and pleaded guilty to the thefts in court on Tuesday. He has been sentenced to eight months in prison for his shoplifting spree.
Bogle snatched almost £100 of washing detergent from Tesco’s after being set free (Stock)(Image: georgeclerk via Getty Images)
Bogle had previously stated: “Keep the early release going, it’s good,” after being initially let out of HMP Wandsworth on October 1. The man who is also a registered sex offender has been jailed five times for a staggering 100 convictions, the Daily Mail reports.
Metropolitan Police’s Assistant Commissioner, Matt Twist, has stated he was surprised how quickly the menace offended again.
He stated: “While it is not surprising that someone with this history went on to reoffend, the speed with which he did so, and the impact on frontline policing, is astonishing.
“Just one day after his release, he was captured on CCTV stealing from two supermarkets in north-west London.”
Even police were shocked at how quick the crook re-offended(Image: Peter Dazeley/Getty Images))
Det Ch Supt Luke Williams, borough commander for Barnet, Brent and Harrow, expressed his concerns to MPs and police chiefs in an unprecedented letter.
Williams said: “The concerning nature of the early release scheme in this case was a known prolific offender being put back into the community, only to immediately reoffend.
“Not only does this place communities at risk, it puts demand straight back into policing, who must arrest, investigate and put the individual into custody.
“This is not just a localised issue with similar cases occurring across London, where people are released, only for their cycle of offending to immediately start again.
“I, along with other officers from across the Met, am concerned this will only get worse as more people are released early.”
An estimated 4,500 offenders will hit the streets over the next 10 months due to the early release program. The criminals set to walk free include domestic abusers and some categories of sex offenders.
The chair of the National Association of Probation Officers, Ben Cockburn, has stated the scheme is an “existential risk” for the probation service in the UK.
