A man arrested in Utrecht last week on charges of rape and attempted rape is a convicted criminal who failed to return to jail after a period of leave, the Volkskrant reports on Tuesday.

The man was arrested after a high-speed chase on Thursday night. In March 2008 he had been jailed for two years for threatening behaviour and embezzlement. He failed to return to prison in June after a three-day break.
The man had been arrested on the third day of his leave for drunk driving but he was released after being charged, the Volkskrant said.
In a statement, the public prosecution department said it was extremely sorry the man had not been traced earlier. ‘The department realises how painful this must be for the two victims’, the statement said.
There have been calls for changes to the rules governing prison leave following the recent escape of two men jailed on people smuggling charges.