Niedersachsen sexual offender's prison leave abuse triggers justice ministry review

A 23‑year‑old man convicted in 2021 of severe child‑abuse was serving a five‑and‑a‑half‑year sentence in the youth detention centre in Hameln, Lower Saxony. He was granted a half‑year special prison leave that allowed him to travel to Bavaria, where authorities allege he used social‑media and classified‑ads platforms to contact minors and sexually assault two boys, a twelve‑year‑old and an eleven‑year‑old. Police in July 2025 were alerted, the offender was re‑arrested in Bavaria and charged at the Aschaffenburg district court.

The Lower Saxony Justice Ministry announced a comprehensive review of all prison‑leave decisions, describing the case as “extraordinarily dramatic.” Justice Minister Kathrin Wahlmann said the parliament and public were informed too late, while a ministry spokesperson called the allegations “abominable.” Earlier warnings in April 2024, when the inmate attempted to reach minors via his phone, had already led to a temporary suspension of his leave privileges, but the special leave was later reinstated.

The incident has sparked political outrage, with calls for stricter oversight of inmate leave programs to protect children.