‘Cowardly’ fugitive who escaped court in chains is sent to prison
Frankland snatched a bag from an 81-year-old woman – but now he is back behind bars
A crook, who fled the dock before sprinting through Scarborough in handcuffs, has been jailed for snatching a pensioner’s handbag.
Sources claimed shackled Russell Frankland pushed over two security guards outside Scarborough Magistrates’ Court as he was about to be driven to prison.
He vanished for days, before police drove to Rochdale and arrested him following a chase on foot.
He has now been jailed for over three years after admitting snatching the 81-yearold’s bag in Sandringham Street on November 21 last year.
The 41-year-old also pleaded guilty to handling goods stolen during a burglary at a property in Castlegate the following day.
“Russell Frankland is a cowardly offender who targeted a vulnerable elderly woman,” said Detective Constable James Temple, of Scarborough CID.
“He stole some very sentimental items which have not been returned to the victim and he has shown no remorse at any point during proceedings.”
Frankland, of Aberdeen Walk, was sentenced to two-and-a-half years’ imprisonment for theft, and six months jail for handling stolen goods.
He was also sentenced to a further six months’ imprisonment for escaping lawful custody when he fled from Scarborough Magistrates’ Court on December 4.
Those chaotic scenes were described as being like “something from the Keystone Cops”.
He dashed past Scarborough Police Station and along Victoria Road, before vanishing, eventually resurfacing over 100 miles away in Rochdale.
The Ministry of Justice, which is responsible for transporting prisoners, didn’t respond to our requests at the time as to how he escaped.