A man has been accused of sexually assaulting a woman just an hour after being released from prison under the government’s early release scheme, it is being reported.

The offender, who had just been let out of HMP Swaleside on Sheppey, allegedly assaulted the woman at Sittingbourne railway station shortly after leaving the prison, according to MailOnline.

The 31-year-old was part of a small group of inmates released on Tuesday – the first day of the controversial scheme.

It is reported the man later got on a train to London and was arrested in Croydon on Wednesday.

The early release scheme, known as SDS40, allows criminals to be freed after serving 40% of their sentence rather than half as a result of jail overcrowding.

A British Transport Police spokesperson said: “Amari Ward, 31, has been charged with sexual assault following an incident at Sittingbourne railway station on September 10 at around 1.07pm.

“He has been recalled to prison and is next due to appear at Maidstone Crown Court on 10 October."