A violent thug jailed for a brutal attack on his girlfriend has been released - having served less than a year.
Jack Bushell dragged terrified mum-of-one Jade Gallagher through the street before punching her unconscious.
Bushell - naked throughout the attack - beat her so violently she vomited.
His police custody photo showed the South Shields savage seemingly smirking at his handywork.
But Bushell, a convicted stalker who a judge branded a danger to women, is once again tasting freedom having served a little more than a third of his 28-month sentence.
His prison's governor approved his release on a electronically-monitored Home Detention Curfew (HDC).
A Ministry of Justice (MoJ) spokesperson said: "Under the terms of a HDC everyone is electronically tagged and subject to strict licence conditions, including an overnight curfew.
"If these are breached they face a return to prison."
Bushell is believed to have been released in the past fortnight - the same period Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced a crime crackdown - having served just 10 months behind bars.
The MoJ added: “We understand the distress caused to victims when their attacker is released from prison and the Prime Minister has been clear the most violent offenders should serve sentences that truly reflect the severity of their crime."
Covered in blood-soaked bandages, Miss Gallagher bravely shared a hospital selfie showing the gruesome injuries sustained by her ex.
Stumbling in at 5am from a party, alcohol and cocaine-fuelled Bushell attacked her after refusing to accept their relationship was done.
Kicking and punching her as she tried to flee, Bushell called her a "f****** stupid cow".
When arrested, Bushell told police he hoped their wives would be raped.
Details of the sustained attack were read out in court barely 24 hours after it unfolded last October 21 in front of shocked neighbours.
Bushell appeared in the dock - himself battered and bruised - where he admitted ABH.
A month later he was jailed at Newcastle Crown Court after Miss Gallagher told the sentencing: "I thought he was going to kill me.
"I'm sure if I had not managed to escape he would have killed me.
"He showed no signs of stopping and was completely out of control."
The attack unfolded six weeks after Bushell was given a restraining order - which he also admitted breaching - for stalking Miss Gallagher.
The pest bombarded her with calls and even climbed through her window at night.
His new curfew means that should he try something similar again he could be put back behind bars.
The HDC scheme, in place for 20 years, allows prisoners who have served at least a quarter of their sentence to be released early on a tag.
Prisoners jailed for up to four years are eligible but only within four-and-a-half months of their automatic release date.
Usually, that is when an inmate has served half their sentence.
In Bushell's case, that means he would have spent Christmas and New Year in his cell.
However, after passing a risk assessment, the prison's Governor makes the final decision to grant the early release - which Bushell, of Soane Gardens, has been granted.
As he was sentenced, the court heard the then-22-year-old was "remorseful" for the attack which even his own barrister admitted was "despicable".
Jailing him, Judge Sarah Mallett issued a warning to both Bushell and any woman he starts a relationship with again.
"You pose a high risk of re-offending," Judge Mallett said.
"You pose a high risk of harm to females you are in a relationship with."
