Ministers were warned of errors at jail that released sex offender by mistake

Chaotic release procedures at HMP Chelmsford were flagged to the prisons minister last year

Ministers were warned by a watchdog that prisoners were falling through the cracks" of chaotic release procedures at the jail that mistakenly freed a convicted child sex offender.

An annual report on HMP Chelmsford uncovered a litany of issues and errors" including a mix-up of release dates" when letting out a vulnerable prisoner.