Hollywood actor freed early from jail under Keir Starmers prisoner release scheme is back behind bars 48 hours later for assaulting his ex
A Hollywood actor freed early from jail under Keir Starmers prisoner release scheme is back behind bars 48 hours later for assaulting his ex.
A Hollywood actor freed early from jail under Keir Starmers prisoner release scheme is back behind bars 48 hours later for assaulting his ex.
Jason Hoganson - who rose to fame after starring in the cult 80s film Empire State - was snapped leaving HMP Durham on September 10, after serving half of his 18-month sentence for assaulting his ex-girlfriend and breaching a restraining order.
But 48 hours later, the fallen star, of no fixed abode, with his face crisscrossed with angry scars and his head covered in distinctive tattoos, was back behind bars after being arrested.
A court heard he was arrested on September 11, the day after he was released, on suspicion of two counts of breaching a restraining order by contacting the same ex-partner and one of assaulting her.
Prosecutors said that Hoganson allegedly sent his former partner two letters while he was in HMP Durham in August and on September 3.
Jason Hoganson, with his face crisscrossed with angry scars and his head covered in distinctive tattoos, gave a jubilant thumbs up to the camera as he left prison on September 10
Jason Hoganson had been jailed for 18 months at Newcastle Crown Court
Jason Hoganson pictured at the time of his appearance in 1987 movie Empire State
He is then suspected of assaulting her by slapping her cheek at her home address the day after his prison release.
Hoganson appeared before Newcastle Magistrates Court on September 12 and pleaded guilty to one count of breaching the restraining order but not guilty to the second. He also denied the assault by beating allegation.
The court heard that the assault allegation happened at a property in Arthurs Hill, Newcastle. District Judge Kate Meek accepted jurisdiction and his trial was listed for October 30 at South Tyneside Magistrates Court. He was remanded in custody.
Hoganson was due to appear again at North Tyneside Magistrates Court via a video link from prison on Wednesday, September 18, but he refused to appear and his solicitor spoke on his behalf. He was further remanded in custody until his trial.
The 53-year-old actor was one of the 1,700 inmates released early as the government took the drastic step to tackle the overcrowded prisons.
Originally from Wallsend, Hoganson - who now has 109 convictions on his record - struggled with his movie career and fell into a life of drink, drugs and crime.
Playing an enigmatic Geordie drifter living among mobsters in London, Hoganson had been talent-scouted by producers who contacted his drama teacher looking for a youth to play the part in the 1987 movie.
Last month, Newcastle Crown Court heard Hoganson was caught on doorbell video camera when he attacked his former partner in Newcastle on December 11 last year.
The 53-year-old actor was one of the 1,700 inmates released early as the government took the drastic step to tackle the overcrowded prisons
Originally from Wallsend, Hoganson - who now has 109 convictions on his record - struggled with his movie career and fell into a life of drink, drugs and crime
Hoganson struggled with his early success after starring in Empire State, and his life descended into crime and addictions
After auditioning more than 100 teenage hopefuls, producers offered Hoganson the part of Geordie drifter Pete, and he starred alongside Irish actor Ray McAnally, Jamie Foreman and US star Martin Landau. Pictured is a scene from the film
Prosecutor Amy Levitt said he already had a restraining order to keep him away from the woman when he attacked her.
Miss Levitt told the court: Footage shows the defendant assaulting the complainant. He slaps her to the face and she walks away. He walks after her.
There are further hits and a push, where she falls to the floor. The assault continues while shes lying on the floor.
She describes him, having pushed her, hit her, kicked her and put his body weight on her. The assault lasted around three minutes.
Hoganson, of no fixed address, admitted assault by beating and breach of a restraining order.
Ian Crook, defending, told the court: He was an accomplished actor. He actually secured a role, quite a leading role, in a film, a crime thriller.
At that point the future was bright.
Mr Crook said Hoganson already had personal struggles at that point and added: Being thrown into the spotlight wasnt easy for him to cope with. He turned to drink and drugs and that led to a downward spiral.
Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood during a visit to HMP Bedford in Harpur, Bedfordshire
He said Hoganson has a complex mental health history but has been a mentor for others while in prison on remand.
Judge Tim Gittins sentenced Hoganson to 18 months behind bars, most of which he has already served on remand.
Miss Levitt said Hoganson had been given a restraining order to keep him away from the victim after he was convicted of offences of battery and criminal damage in May last year.
Downing Street defended releasing hundreds of prisoners early today despite admitting Keir Starmer is uncomfortable at footage of jubilant lags celebrating being freed.
The Prime Minister is under pressure as convicted criminals including drug dealers popped champagne and partied outside penitentiaries after serving just 40 per cent of sentences.
Some were greeted by a cacophony on their release, with friends blasting out music and giving them new clothes, and some even spraying the former prisoners with sparkling wine to celebrate their newfound freedom.
Newly appointed Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood said measures have been taken to reduce the number of domestic offenders being freed by excluding those serving time for coercive control, stalking, harassment and breach of a restraining or non-molestation order.
People spray sparkling wine over a man who walked out of Nottingham Prison on September 10
But prisoners convicted of broader offences like assault or criminal damage, which are not specific to domestic violence, are not excluded.
Official figures showed there were 88,521 people behind bars on Friday, 171 more than the previous record set at the end of last week.
The prison population has now risen by 1,025 people over the past four weeks and now stands at its highest level since weekly population data was first published in 2011.
Crimes exempt from the new early release scheme include prisoners sentences for sexual and violent offences of over four years.
The Justice Secretary said she has been told that the emergency early release plan could prevent prisons running out of space within weeks.
The MOJ has said the move will give them an extra 18 months to allow more prison places to be freed up and allow for a wider review of sentencing to take place.
