The unnamed man fled the country after a pre-trial hearing at Isleworth Crown Court (Image: Humphrey Nemar.)
A suspected rapist has fled the country after being accidentally freed from prison weeks before he was due to stand trial, according to reports. The man, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was being held in a UK jail after being charged with multiple allegations of rape, sexual assault and violence against a woman. He was allowed to walk free after an official at Isleworth Crown Court in London accidentally said he could be released on bail following a pre-trial hearing in February.
The suspected offender was subsequently released and flew out of the country shortly afterwards. Details of the blunder emerged as a top judge called for the Government to help track the suspected rapist down and make sure he has his day in court.
Judge Martin Edmunds said the release had been due to a court ‘error’ (Image: Getty Images)
Isleworth Crown Court heard that the man, who denies all the charges against him, appeared in court in January for a hearing to consider whether his trial date should be brought forward from June to March, The Sun reports.
It was during a later February hearing that the blunder occurred that triggered his accidental release.
Judge Martin Edmunds KC said: « Although such errors are extremely rare, and indeed this is the only instance I am aware of when there has been an erroneous release of a prisoner held in custody to this court, we take this error extremely seriously.
« We will fully investigate how it occurred and what steps can be put in place to prevent it occurring again. »
He added that the confusion appeared to have been linked to the defendant facing another criminal case, for which he has been granted bail, suggesting that « a mistake was made assuming he was on bail on both matters ».
The defendant’s barrister said that he had fled the UK for a European country after his release, but was now unable to return because his British passport is still being held by the police.
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He reportedly used a passport issued by his country of origin to leave the country, leaving him « unable, without further assistance from the state, to return to the [UK] ».
Judge Edmunds said: « What I consider is required is confirmation from Foreign or Home Office that … arrangements are in place, that if the defendant chooses to engage with them, will allow him to return to the UK. »
A further hearing will be held on Tuesday to decide whether the trial can be brought ahead to March and whether the suspect can be brought back to the UK.
A spokesperson for the Ministry of Justice said: « An individual was mistakenly released on bail on Friday, February 6. His Majesty’s Courts and Tribunal Service is investigating this matter, and we are urgently working with the police to return them to custody.
« We understand the distress errors such as this can cause to those affected and instances like this have exposed deep-rooted issues across the broken justice system the Government inherited.
« We’re determined to bear down on these mistakes and keep the public safe, which is why Dame Lynne Owens is undertaking an independent investigation which we expected to report back in the coming weeks, and we are investing millions to modernise technology to replace archaic paper-based systems. »
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