Pyjama-clad criminal tricks police guards

Man escapes from hospital after one police officer goes to fetch him coffee, and another to get biscuits

A VIOLENT criminal fled police custody in a pair of green pyjamas after he tricked them into bringing him coffee and biscuits, a court has heard.

Kieron Jenkins, 30, escaped University Hospital Coventry barefoot after the two officers who were supposed to be guarding him left him alone.

Hours earlier he had been arrested for handling stolen goods and biting a police officer after a chase.

He was taken into custody before being transferred to the hospital for a mental assessment.

Jenkins managed to flee the facility when he asked one officer to fetch him a cup of coffee and moments later the other left to get him biscuits.

Following the escape, police were forced to issue an appeal to the public, warning them not to approach Jenkins following his escape last month.

The force helicopter was also scrambled to search for Jenkins who was finally discovered three days later at his home address, three miles from the hospital. West Midlands Police yesterday confirmed that a disciplinary investigation has been launched after the incident.

“Warwick Crown Court has heard that a violent criminal escaped from custody after the two officers supposed to be guarding him left him unaccompanied to get coffee and biscuits for the suspect,” a spokesman said.

“A disciplinary investigation is currently ongoing. We cannot comment further while this investigation is active.”

Stuart Clarkson, the prosecutor, said the man evaded police custody despite being guarded.

“He was being guarded by officers, and he asked for a coffee and a biscuit ... they went to get one, and he took the opportunity of leaving the room and making off,” Mr Clarkson said.

“Even though he was still in green pyjamas, they lost him, but some days later they attended his address and arrested him,” said Mr Clarkson.

Jenkins, of Coventry, was jailed on Friday for 14 months after he admitted handling stolen property, assault and escaping from custody.

Sentencing him at Warwick Crown Court, Judge Barry Berlin told him his request for a hot drink and biscuits was a ploy to stage his escape.

“In a room at the hospital you asked officers for a coffee and biscuits. That was plainly a ruse and you made your escape in green pyjamas,” the judge said.

The court had heard how Jenkins was originally caught while trying to sell a laptop computer which was among the items stolen in a house burglary at Melbourne Road, Coventry, in March.

The judge heard that Jenkins sold the laptop at a CEX shop on the day of the burglary, which he himself did not take part in.

On June 12, officers on patrol in the city saw Jenkins, who had previously been freed on licence and was wanted for recall to prison as well as on suspicion of receiving the stolen laptop.

There was a chase, during which Jenkins tried to climb a fence but was brought down by one of the officers who was then bitten on the arm by him.

The court heard Jenkins had a number of previous convictions for offences including handling stolen goods. David Murray, defending, said: “He was clearly under arrest. He asked one officer for a cup of coffee, and that officer left, and he then asked the other officer for a packet of biscuits.

“That officer left as well. He then took the opportunity to leave. It wasn’t planned.”

Jenkins had pleaded guilty and was handed consecutive prison terms of three months for handling stolen property, six months for the assault, and five months for subsequently fleeing police custody.