... and we pay for prisoners’ driving lessons

SOME 129 prisoners left jail to take driving lessons or tests last year, figures show – with taxpayers covering part of the cost.

Those on day-release included 57 violent offenders, 30 convicted of drugs offences, 21 robbers, four burglars and a sex offender.

About a quarter were serving the equivalent of a life sentence, while two had committed serious motoring offences, Ministry of Justice figures show.

The MoJ also granted day release to 190 inmates learning to drive in 2013.

Part of the bill for lessons and tests is understood to have been paid by the taxpayer. Peter Cuthbertson, of the Centre for Crime Prevention, said it ‘undermines the notion that prisoners are being punished’.

‘It is particularly galling if law-abiding people have to pay for their own lessons when some prisoners get them free,’ he added. Prisons Minister Andrew Selous admitted jails made ‘a contribution’ to the cost of lessons if prisoners could not afford it. He said that inmates were ‘thoroughly risk-assessed’.