'My abuser has just been granted early release - it's horrible, I feel sick'

"It has only been two days, but I'm just dead twitchy. I don't even want to be in my own house."

These are the words of Lara, a 30 year-old woman who was beaten by her ex-partner Owen. He was one of around 1,700 prisoners granted early release last week under government plans to tackle overcrowding in prisons.

Some domestic violence charges - such as controlling and coercive behaviour and strangulation - were exempt from the scheme. But Lara, whose ex-partner was convicted for Actual Bodily Harm (ABH) over a violent assault where he broke her nose, was eligible. She says she feels constantly 'on edge' and is worried for the safety of her and her young child.

READ MORE: As he lay in bed fast asleep, he was completely unaware his life was about to change

"It was horrible - I felt sick," she said, describing the moment she first found out Owen had been granted early release. "I did know he was going in for it, but because I'd spoken to so many people who said perpetrators of domestic violence wouldn't get released early, I didn't think he would.

"Suddenly he was coming out in three weeks."

Prisoners in England and Wales, except for those convicted of the most serious offences, are usually released on licence after serving 50 per cent of their sentence. Under new government plans, this has been reduced to 40 per cent.

The first batch of prisoners eligible for this early release left prisons across the country this week. In Lara's case, she was only given three weeks notice, which she says left her 'anxious' and struggling to come to terms with knowing her abuser would be walking the streets again.

"I knew the day was going to happen eventually, but as far as I knew it was going to be in November," she said. "I had more