 A VIOLENT offender was released from Winson Green prison just a week into a six month sentence. Raheem Ahmed was allowed to walk out of the door despite serving six months for affray. He was jailed on July 26 and released on August 1. It is not clear whether he was released by mistake or tricked guards by using false identity. A prison service spokeswoman said: "We can confirm that Raheem Ahmed was released from Birmingham Prison. A Prison Service investigation will make clear whether this was a release in error or an escape. "If the latter then it was a case of swapped identity rather than a breach of the perimeter and is a matter for the police." Today West Midlands Police urged Ahmed to give himself up and return to custody. They said they had not issued an urgent warning as they do not believe he is a danger to the public. The release follows the death of two Winson Green prisoners found hanged in their cells within the space of an hour at the weekend in what Prison Service bosses described as tragic, but unrelated, incidents. Neither prisoner was subject to a suicide watch, it was claimed. Prison officers found Saeed Adeli Gholi, a 31-year-old Iranian national awaiting sentence for harbouring, hanging in his double cell at about 3am on Saturday. The spokewoman said: "Staff and paramedics attempted to, but failed, to revive him. He was pronounced dead at 3.14am." About an hour later, in a different wing, staff found Gary Franey, a 30-year-old Irish national, hanging in his single cell. Again staff attempted to revive him, but he was pronounced dead at 4.13am. He was serving one year and nine months for burglary. The spokeswoman said: "These deaths are tragedies and our thoughts are with the families and friends of Mr Gholi and Mr Franey."
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