A woman whose ex-boyfriend threatened to slit her throat and petrol-bomb her home says being told he will be released from prison early to tackle overcrowding has made her feel “physically sick”.

Natasha Brine, 30, was left in constant fear during a terrifying four-month campaign of harassment at the hands of “unhinged” Jack Poore, who was jailed last year for almost 35 months.

But her abuser is set to walk free next week - three-and-a-half months early - as part of a controversial government scheme to free up space in the country’s jails.

This is despite officials saying those convicted of “domestic abuse connected crimes” would be excluded from the plans.

Mum-of-three Miss Brine - who has uprooted her life to escape Poore - says she has had “horrific nightmares” since learning his time behind bars will be cut short.

“I thought he would be released around Christmas time, so I thought I would have at least four months to prepare,” she explained.

“But all of a sudden he will be out and it has knocked me for six.

“They said bail conditions have been put in place, but twice before he has broken restraining orders so I don’t feel very safe.”

Poore, a warehouseman from Hadlow, near Tonbridge, is among 5,500 offenders who will benefit from the government’s early-release scheme, with the first 1,700 walking free yesterday.

To be eligible, inmates must have served at least 40% of their sentence, rather than the standard 50%.

Poore, who was living in Ashford at the time of his offending, was jailed in December last year but had been held on remand since his arrest five months before.

A court was told he had subjected Miss Brine to a “toxic and controlling” relationship in which he assaulted her and twice breached court orders designed to protect her.

In March last year, he left her disturbing voicemails in which he branded her a “dirty, cheating little ****” and threatened to “slice” her.

He then sent her a chilling Snapchat message, warning her: “You will be in a petrol bomb by 10pm.”

When she bravely told him she was not scared, he continued: “I would be. You are just a snake **** and I want you to die. You won’t make 30 and you certainly won’t make 50 because I will kill you.”

Miss Brine says the threats played “havoc” with her mental health, with the psychological trauma resurfacing after she learned Poore would be released.

“I've been put back on anti-depressants and sleeping tablets because I’m having horrific nightmares,” she said.

“I don't feel like I have had the time mentally to prepare for this.”

Miss Brine, who has a son with Poore, says she is even worried for her child’s safety and has had to take steps to protect him.

“I have had to inform my son's school so they can have extra security measures in place so [Poore] doesn't turn up at the school,” she said.

The government has said anyone jailed for a domestic abuse offence will not be released early as part of the scheme.

It has even listed some of the crimes covered by the exclusion, including breaching a non-molestation order or restraining order; Poore pleaded guilty to both.

Such was the extreme nature of the messages he sent Miss Brine that a judge even questioned why the 32-year-old had not been prosecuted for a charge more serious than harassment, which he also admitted.

But in a letter to Miss Brine on August 14, the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) said Poore “meets the criteria for this scheme”, informing her he would walk free this week.

Only yesterday was she told his early release had been delayed until next week.

She feels not enough consideration has been given to how releasing prisoners early will impact the victims of their crimes.

“I'm outraged and so upset because how on earth does he qualify when he has breached two previous restraining orders?” she said.

“Surely that is the epitome of domestic abuse, which they state would not qualify for this scheme.

“I have had to move home, move to a different area, move my kids’ schools and uproot my entire life because of the ongoing effect this is having on me.

“It feels like releasing him early is like him being let off, but I'm still dealing with the effects while he will be carrying on with his life, which doesn't seem fair.

“When they are releasing these prisoners they are not thinking of the effect that it is having on the victims.

“It's all well and good saying prisons are full and they need them out, but they are not thinking about how it is affecting our lives.

“I think they should serve the sentence they are given.”

Ruth Warren helps victims through various court proceedings in her work at Kent charity Support & Action To End Domestic Abuse (Sateda).

She says the service is concerned to learn victims of domestic abuse are being told their perpetrators qualify for the early release scheme.

“This not only places those who have experienced abuse from these prisoners at a potential risk of further escalation but also significantly increases survivors' anxiety and trauma,” she said.

"It is crucial that all early releases are thoroughly risk-assessed and properly managed, ensuring that victims are informed and provided with specialist support prior to any release.

“We are aware of cases in Kent where victims of high-risk domestic abuse were not given any prior warning about the potential early release of their abusers.

"We urge survivors who are concerned about the early release of their perpetrators to reach out to their local probation team or neighbourhood policing teams for case updates and additional support."

Tonbridge MP and Tory leader hopeful Tom Tugendhat also criticised the scheme, describing the release of dangerous criminals and domestic abusers as “simply wrong”.

“The Prime Minister found 500 prison spaces during the riots, proving he didn’t have to do this,” he said.

“He’s made a choice: make the streets of west Kent more dangerous rather than protecting the most vulnerable.

“That isn’t leadership the British public or residents in Tonbridge and the surrounding communities deserve.”

The MoJ told KentOnline it cannot comment on individual cases, but shared guidance which confirmed the scheme “excludes offenders in prison for domestic abuse connected crimes”.

It also shared a statement from the Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice, Shabana Mahmood, in which she says the Labour government inherited a “dire situation”.

“This government will tackle the crisis head on and today (Tuesday), changes will come into force to prevent a total collapse of our criminal justice system that would leave the public less safe,” she continued.

“If we had not acted when we came into office, there was a real risk that the courts would have been forced to delay sending offenders to jail and police left unable to arrest dangerous criminals.

“This is a temporary measure, giving us time to set about long-term change in the prison system – building the prisons we need and driving down reoffending.”