A HOLLYWOOD actor has been found guilty of attacking his ex the day after he was freed early from jail under Sir Keir Starmer’s scheme.
Jason Hoganson was pictured giving a thumbs up as he walked free from HMP Durham on September 10.
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The tattooed thug, 53, had served just half his 18 month sentence for assaulting his ex-girlfriend Rachel Usher.
Hoganson , who had a leading role in the cult 1980s film Empire State, landed himself back in prison after assaulting Rachel the following day.
He is now facing more jail time after being convicted of assault and two counts of breaching a restraining order.
Newcastle Magistrates’ Court was told Rachel, 42, had tragically died on October 30 – the day Hoganson was originally due to stand trial.
A judge decided the case should go ahead using the mum-of-three’s statement as evidence.
She told in the document how the pair had been in a relationship for about six years and Hoganson “used to hit me all the time”.
The statement continued: “I’m aware he was released two days ago – earlier than he should have been.”
Rachel said on September 11, she was waiting for a lift by her flat when the thug ran towards her and “slapped me across the side of my face”.
She added: “He was shouting and bawling and seemed really angry. He called me a s*** and said there was someone in my flat.
“He said can we go somewhere and when I said no he got even more angry.”
Rachel told how the slap was “powerful” and had “a lot of force behind it”.
The court heard the mum phoned the police, while Hoganson hit his head on an electrical box on the wall.
In his evidence, the former actor claimed he only went to the block of flats where Rachel lived to get some belongings from a man who lived there.
When asked why the mystery man was not in court to back up his version of events, Hoganson bizarrely claimed he had been “having an affair” with his ex.
The thug then launched into a foul-mouthed rant – causing him to be removed from the dock.
Deputy District Judge Natalie Wortley found Hoganson guilty of all three charges.
The breach of a restraining order relates to going to Rachel’s home on the day of the attack and sending her a letter from prison a week earlier.
Hoganson was originally convicted in August last year after he was caught on doorbell footage attacking Rachel.
The actor was already under a restraining order when he showed up at her home and shoved her to the ground.
Hoganson was also filmed slapping the woman and landing more blows during the terrifying attack.
He was sentenced to 18 months behind bars after he admitted assault by beating and breach of a restraining order.
But he was released early under Sir Keir’s controversial scheme to free up space in prison.
The actor has now been remanded into custody ahead of sentencing for his latest conviction on February 25.
Hoganson was once a rising star in Hollywood – playing drifter Pete in crime thriller Empire State, set in London‘s yuppie docklands and starring Oscar nominee Martin Landau.
But the fallen star slipped in a spiral of drug addiction and crime that led to more than 100 convictions.
In recent years, Hoganson has shocked with his appearance after covering self-harm scars to his face with tattoos.
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