A Bradford district MP has branded the Criminal Justice System “a mockery” after he forced the Government to admit one criminal was let off with a slap on the wrist last year despite having almost 600 previous cautions or convictions.

Justice Minister Crispin Blunt said the offender had committed 578 crimes over a period of 50 years but, on sentencing last year, did not receive an immediate custodial sentence.

Shipley MP Philip Davies said the overwhelming majority of the public would be outraged by the revelations.

Mr Davies said: “You could not make this figure up – it is unbelievable.

“The fact that someone can have nearly 600 convictions and not have been sent to prison will astound most people.

“It flies in the face of Ken Clarke saying too many people are going to prison. It makes a complete mockery of the Criminal Justice System that people can commit hundreds of crimes and not face prison.”

Mr Davies asked the Government for the information following his previous findings which revealed 385 career criminals escaped a custodial sentence last year despite having a staggering 101 previous convictions or cautions.

The revelations came as Justice Secretary Ken Clarke yesterday announced three prisons would close at the cost of almost 850 places.

Parliamentary answers given to Mr Davies also reveal that, as of 2008/9, the latest figures available, there are 6,660 criminals deemed high or very high risk who are serving community sentences. He said: “The probation service is not known for being the most hard-line of organisations. If this is their definition of high risk of serious harm we should all be worried.”

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