A man who vaulted from the dock and sped out of Bristol Crown Court when he was being sent to prison has been arrested - after almost two days on the run.
Damon Jefferies had just been handed a six months jail term at Bristol Crown Court when he jumped out of the dock on July 12.
The 32-year-old, of Bedminster Down, leapt from the dock of Court Nine - hotly pursued by court staff - and managed to flee the building in Small Street at around 4pm.
Police launched a manhunt for Jefferies, who was last seen heading to the Old Market area of Bristol.
Jefferies was arrested and is now due to appear at Bristol Magistrates Court today (June 14). You can follow updates in our live blog below.
Jefferies appeared before Judge Euan Ambrose for breaching the terms of a suspended prison sentence.
In February 2018 he was handed a 12 months jail term, suspended for two years, after admitting controlling behaviour in a relationship.
As part of his suspended sentence a judge imposed 150 hours' unpaid work, a rehabilitation requirement and a Building Better Relationships course.
Jefferies to appear at crown court
Jefferies, wearing a white T-shirt, has confirmed his name, address and date of birth.
Magistrates have said he should remain in cuffs.
The prosecutor said Jefferies escaped from lawful custody on June 12.
No plea was entered and magistrates sent the case to Bristol Crown Court on July 17.
He was remanded in custody.
Jefferies called on
Damon Jefferies case called on.
He is due to appear in the full-security dock in handcuffs.
He has nine supporters in the public gallery.
Carla Bridgman case sent to the crown court
Carla Bridgman, dressed in black, has been called to the dock of Court Two.
She has ten supporters attending in the public gallery.
Jeremy Oliver, prosecuting, said Bridgman is charged with assisting Jefferies to evade capture and therefore perverting the course of justice.
The offence is indictable only.
Bridgman, a single mum, denies the charge.
Mr Oliver asked for the case to be transferred to Bristol Crown Court on July 12.
Magistrates sent the case to the crown court on July 12 and gave Bridgman unconditional bail.
She has left court, along with her supporters.
We await the case of Jefferies.
Cases to be heard shortly
Jefferies, who is in custody and Miss Bridgman, who is on bail, are to be dealt with shortly after they have finished consulting with their solicitors.
Jefferies is arrested and due back at court
Good morning.
Jefferies has been arrested and is due to appear at Bristol Magistrates’ Court today.
He has been charged with escape from lawful custody from Bristol Crown Court on June 12.
The offence is indictable only and will have to be sent to the crown court.
Carla Bridgman, 28, of John Caller Crescent in Stoke Gifford, has been charged with knowingly harbouring Jefferies at her home on June 13.
She is due to appear before magistrates today but Bristol LIve understands her charge will be amended to perverting the course of justice.
She will also have to be sent to the crown court.
Jefferies arrested and charged
Damon Jefferies, 32, of Bedminster is due before Bristol Magistrates today, charged with escaping lawful custody.
The charge follows an incident at Bristol Crown Court on June 12.
A spokesman from Avon and Somerset Constabulary said he was arrested last night, adding “Officers thank everyone who shared their appeal to trace him.”
Jefferies still on the run
Avon and Somerset Police confirmed this morning (June 13) that Damon Jefferies remains on the run.
If you see him, do not approach him but call 999 immediately. If you have any other information which could help police locate him, ring 101, quoting reference 727 of June 12.
Has this happened before?
Jefferies’ escape follows a man fleeing Worcester Crown Court moments after being found guilty of rape last year.
Bradley Tout caused chaos by jumping the dock on October 3 – and was “long gone” by the time a security worker apparently tripped and was injured during efforts to find him.
Tout, 20, who handed himself in four days later to begin serving a seven-and-a-half year sentence for rape, admitted a charge of escaping from lawful custody.
Handing him an extra six months in custody, Judge James Tindal said the 20-year-old had exhibited “panic and, bluntly, cowardice” as he ran from court.
Police release mugshot
Police have issued an appeal with pictures and a description of Jefferies.
You can read more here.
'Extremely rare'
A HM Courts and Tribunals Service spokeswoman said: “Public protection is our priority and although incidents like this are extremely rare, all are taken seriously.
“A full investigation is underway and it would be inappropriate to comment further.”
Awaiting police and security firm responses
We have approached police, the Ministry of Justice and GeoAmey - which runs the court’s security - for more details.
What Jefferies was sentenced for
Having failed to comply with a court order on three occasions, Jefferies was handed an additional seven hours’ unpaid work in January.
Today (June 12, 2019) Nicholas Fridd, prosecuting, said Jefferies had failed to attend unpaid work on multiple occasions and was still yet to begin his Building Better Relationships Course or rehabilitation.
John Stokes, defending, said a probation report suggested Jefferies now accepted he needed support and was discussing his life more honestly.
But Judge Ambrose told Jefferies: “The proof of the pudding is in the attendance, and the attendance is woeful.”
He activated six months of Jefferies’ previously suspended prison sentence.
With that, Jefferies vaulted from the dock, sprinted out and managed to exit the building via the front door.
Judge Ambrose issued a warrant not backed for bail.
Ironically, the judge started his week in a courtroom with a secure dock - with toughened glass from dock to ceiling - but had changed to Court Nine when he dealt with Jefferies.
Our court reporter speaks about dramatic escape
Bristol Live court reporter Geoff Bennett, a veteran journalist of 26 years, says this is the first time he has witnessed a defendant absconding.
He said: “I was doing a bit of work on my laptop on the press bench. I heard a commotion and before I knew it he had pelted to my left, crashing through the door.
“One security guard had been with him in the dock, but he was unable to detain him. The barrier of the dock was probably up to the defendant’s chest, but he was up and over in a flash.
“He left the courtroom like a bomb. He was pursued by the security guard while the clerk phoned down to the front door security.
“He was so quick getting down the stairs from the fourth floor to the ground floor that he managed to get down the stairs and get out.”
Geoff added that he heard a member of staff say Damon Jefferies had run in the direction of St Nick’s Market.
“It was quite a dramatic and unexpected moment,” Geoff said.
The court has possession of Jefferies’ phone and wallet, which he checked in before his appearance.
