A face tattooed prisoner freed from jail by Sir Keir Starmer was back behind bars within 48 hours of his early release, after allegedly assaulting an ex-partner.

Some 1,700 prisoners were released early from their sentences last week in the first phase of the Government's plan to tackle overcrowding.

Last Tuesday's exodus from jails across England and Wales included some convicted killers, and came after Labour announced plans in July to temporarily cut the proportion of sentences which inmates must serve behind bars to 40 percent.

The Government said the measures were necessary as overcrowding had pushed jails to the "point of collapse".

Among those set free was bald-headed former film star Jason Hoganson, 53, who beamed to the cameras and made a thumbs up sign as he swaggered out from Durham Prison on September 10.

But now it has emerged Hoganson, who was serving an 18-month sentence for assaulting an ex-girlfriend, has been thrown back behind bars just 48 hours later.

Hoganson, who was released early after serving only half of his jail sentence, had a leading role in 1987 Hollywood film Empire State.

The Telegraph reports Hoganson appeared before Newcastle Magistrates' court on September 12 and pleaded guilty to one count of breaching a restraining order but not guilty to a second count. He also denied an allegation of assault by beating.

Hoganson was due to appear at North Tyneside Magistrates' court via video link from prison on Wednesday September 18, but it's reported he refused to appear and his solicitor spoke on his behalf.

He has been remanded in custody with a trial date listed for October 30 at the South Tyneside Magistrates' court.

In another blow to former Crown Prosecution Service supremo Sir Keir Starmer, the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) has announced there have been delays fitting some early released offenders with electronic monitoring tags.

Prisons and probation minister Lord Timpson is due to have a meeting with security company Serco, which took over the MoJ's tagging contract in May, on Thursday.

An MoJ spokesman said: "Tagging is an important part of our strategy to keep victims safe and cut reoffending, and there are currently record numbers of offenders wearing tags.

"We are holding Serco to account to address delays in fitting some offenders with tags, and will apply financial penalties against the company if this is not resolved quickly.

"While this issue is ongoing, we have prioritised tagging domestic-abuse offenders to make sure their licence conditions, such as staying away from their victims, are strictly followed."