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Prisoner escaped from hospital bed after he asked officers to get him a cup of coffee and a biscuit

Lady Justice, holding scales and a sword, on top of the Central Criminal Court - PA
Lady Justice, holding scales and a sword, on top of the Central Criminal Court - PA

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

Mr 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.

Red-faced 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.

Mr Jenkins, of Coventry, was jailed on Friday for 14-months after he admitted handling stolen property, assaulting an emergency worker and escaping from custody.

Sentencing him at Warwick Crown Court, Judge Barry Berlin told Mr Jenkins his request for tea 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,” he said.

The court heard Jenkins was caught selling a laptop which had been stolen in a house burglary in Coventry in March.

On June 12 officers on patrol in the city saw Jenkins, who was on licence and was wanted on recall to prison and for receiving the stolen laptop.

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

The court heard Jenkins had a number of previous convictions for offences including handling stolen goods.

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