POLICE have launched a urgent investigation into how a convicted rapist was able to attack another two women in Kidderminster, weeks after he was released on licence.

West Mercia Police has commissioned a mandatory multi-agency serious case review to examine the offender management of 24-year-old Ashley Shuck – who was sentenced to life in prison on Monday (August 7) at Worcester Crown Court.

Shuck had previously pleaded guilty to two counts of rape, two counts of sexual assault and one count of kidnapping. He has also been made the subject of a lifetime Sexual Harm Prevention Order and will be placed on the sex offender register for the rest of his life.

On June 18, of this year, two women from Kidderminster reported that they had been sexually assaulted.

A 28-year-old woman reported that she had been sexually assaulted early that morning at her friend’s home in the town.

A 77-year-old woman reported that she had been raped at her home that morning and, afterwards, forced to drive around the county for more than two hours.

At the time of these offences, Shuck was being managed by the National Probation Service on licence after his release from prison in May. He was subject to recall at the time of the offences, as his licence had been revoked.

He had previously been jailed for eight years with a five-year extended licence period in 2012 for abducting and raping a 19-year-old girl and was therefore eligible for release after half his sentence – just one month before the rules changed, Worcester Crown Court heard.

West Mercia Police assistant chief constable, Richard Moore, chairman of the Strategic Management Board for West Mercia MAPPA, said: “Following his release from prison in May 2017, Ashley Shuck was managed through multi-agency public protection arrangements (MAPPA).

“The Strategic Management Board for West Mercia MAPPA has now commissioned a mandatory multi-agency serious case review to examine the offender management of Ashley Shuck.

“The board has appointed Jill Hawes, formerly adult protection coordinator of Worcestershire Adults Safeguarding and MAPPA coordinator, as independent chair of this review.

“We have also made a referral to the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) which has recommended a local investigation managed by West Mercia Police.”

He added: “Our officers, staff and partners work together in the MAPPA to provide the best possible protection to the public.

“In this case serious further offences have been committed and it is essential that we examine all the circumstances and address any issues arising.”

*Ashley Shuck was sentenced to eight years with a five year extended licence period in November, 2012, for abducting and raping a 19-year-old girl and was therefore eligible for release after half his sentence - just one month before the rules changed, Worcester Crown Court heard.

He was let out in May this year and struck at his latest victims after just three weeks. But if he had been given his extended sentence a month later, he would not have been released until he had served two thirds of his time, prosecuter Simon Burns told the court.

Mr Burns said the judge at an earlier hearing in Hereford Crown Court, Judge Daniel Pearce-Higgins, QC, had raised the question as to why a man given an eight year sentence with a five year extension - making a sentence of 13 years - should be released at the four year point.

"If he had been sentenced a couple of months later, he would have had to serve two thirds and would only have been let out with the approval of the parole board," Mr Burns said.

But he was released halfway to be under supervision for nine years.

"The law has been correctly applied as it was then," Mr Burns said.