A sex offender committed a series of crimes starting the day after he was released early from a London prison.

The individual, who is also a prolific shoplifter and was assessed as a “high risk offender”, was captured on CCTV stealing from two supermarkets in north west London within 24 hours of being freed from HMP Wandsworth, say police.

He also also charged with a commercial burglary and breaching court orders after he was arrested by officers and returned to prison.

He had 16 previous convictions and had been linked to more than 100 investigations.

He was set free on Thursday, the first day of the government’s new early release scheme, which will see thousands of inmates released early to ease pressure on prison places.

Detective Chief Superintendent Luke Williams, borough commander for Barnet, Brent and Harrow was so concerned about the case that he has raised the matter with local MPs and councillors.

He warned of other similar cases in the capital. He stressed that communities were being put at risk by the early release of thousands of inmates.

Highlighting court backlogs amid the struggling criminal justice system, he told how victims were increasingly likely to withdraw from it rather than pursue cases.

In his letter, DCS Williams said: “The Met has repeatedly raised concerns that placing more criminals within the community comes with significant risks to victims and places more costs onto policing.

“In this latest example, last Thursday, a prolific shoplifter and registered sex offender was released as part of this scheme from HMP Wandsworth.

“He was serving a sentence for shoplifting and breaching his criminal behaviour order and has subsequently been arrested following further offending within north-west London.”

The senior Scotland Yard officer added: “This individual had been assessed as a high-risk offender by the Probation Service and had 16 previous convictions linked to more than 100 investigations, including multiple thefts, criminal damage and an incident of indecent exposure.

“While I am sure it is not surprising that someone with this history went on to reoffend, the speed with which he did so, and the impact on frontline policing, is astonishing.

“Just one day after his release, he was captured on CCTV stealing from two supermarkets in north-west London.

“When local neighbourhood officers visited the stores, staff reported that he had continued shoplifting throughout the weekend.”

A team of officers spent an entire day locating the man and bringing him back into custody, where he was charged with four counts of shoplifting, breaching court orders and commercial burglary.

He required constant observation while in custody.

Local police officers gathered CCTV evidence and witness statements to build a case against him.

The man subsequently pleaded guilty and is now back in jail.

He was also recalled to prison by the Probation Service.

DCS Williams added: “The concerning nature of the Early Release Scheme in this case was a known prolific offender being put back into the community, only to immediately re-offend.

“Not only does this place communities at risk but puts demand straight back into policing who must arrest, investigate and put the individual into custody.

“In this case, 27 officer hours were needed, leading to a cost of £1,887.”

He added “Furthermore, this is not just a localised issue with similar cases occurring across London, where people are released, only for their cycle of offending to immediately start again.

“I, along with other officers from across the Met are concerned this will only get worse as more people are released early.”

The Government has faced criticism over the early release scheme, with critics saying it was inevitable some criminals would reoffend.

The number of people expected to be released under this scheme was cut from around 6,000 after Prime Minister Andy Burnham intervened to review its terms, removing eligibility for crimes including all forms of manslaughter, grooming offences and causing or allowing the death of a child.

But London’s Victims commissioner Andrea Simon said the exemptions "have not included some offenders whose imminent release is a genuinely terrifying prospect for their victims".

On the morning of its launch last Thursday, when speaking to BBC Breakfast, Treasury minister James Murray said: "I know the level of concern and maybe anger will be intense, and it's worth me making clear that this is not a situation where there is any good solution - there's just a series of very difficult choices we've got to take."

He said the government "inherited a prison system on the brink" and without early releases the country would face a situation where "people who are arrested now can't go behind bars".

The Ministry of Justice has been contacted for comment.