Killer escaped from cell twice on the same day

A convicted killer escaped from the same custody cell twice on the same day minutes after being jailed for five years, a court heard yesterday.

James Stevenson, 30, was jailed for an additional two years after the court heard how he used a shoelace to trigger the lock on his cell door – twice.

Fearful he had made too much noise forcing a door to a nearby outside courtyard, Stevenson returned to his cell, Swansea Crown Court heard yesterday.

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He then called Reliant security staff and demanded to see his solicitor as a way of showing he was still safely locked inside. Once security staff had gone he got out again and finished smashing down a wooden door to the courtyard.

Janet Gedrych, prosecuting, outlined the audacious escape in detail as Stevenson listened from prison via video-link.

The escape happened on October 2 at Swansea's Guildhall building which, as the city's original courthouse, is still used when the newer main building is busy.

Stevenson had appeared for sentence on a number of firearms charges and was jailed for five years.

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He made good his escape minutes later by climbing 28ft over razor wire protecting the inner courtyard and gaining access to a flat roof.

His escape triggered a major manhunt which, at its height, included a 40-man police team.

The overtime bill alone for the police had amounted to 25,000.

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