A prisoner, who was freed just a couple of days into a four-year jail sentence, partied for 10 days before he was dragged back.
Lauras Matiusovas, 30, was mistakenly released 48 hours after being convicted of blackmail.
Prison officers at HMP Pentonville, London, told the stunned inmate he was free to go and escorted him from his cell.
He then called a pal in disbelief to ask him for a lift home.
In a video shot in the back of the car, the Lithuanian is seen laughing before saying: “Fresh home!”
Yesterday one pal told The Sun: “He even contacted probation, who told him everything seemed to be in order and to make sure he went to the next appointment. It’s mad — he could have jumped on a flight and left the UK.
“Instead he chilled with us and had a great time.”
Sources said that the blunder was down to court staff bungling paperwork.
Matiusovas had been jailed for four years and six months at Wood Green crown court, North London, in November for two blackmail offences.
After being freed by accident on November 26, cops finally arrived at his address in Palmers Green, North London, on December 6 and hauled him back to jail.
His pal said: “Imagine if it was someone in for violence or a sex offender — it’s a real scandal.”
Last week it emerged six convicts had been freed by the courts by mistake between January and May.
One was convicted of assault and threatening behaviour.
The Ministry of Justice said: “Releases in error are incredibly rare but we take them extremely seriously.
“This prisoner is already back behind bars.”