Man jailed after court escape bid

http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/wales/south_east/7278952.stm

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A man who jumped from a court dock to escape custody was tackled to the ground by a police officer, a judge heard before jailing him for 28 months.

Cardiff Crown Court heard how Dominic Wright, 24, from near Pontypriddd had appeared in court in January on burglary charges and been refused bail.

He jumped from the dock but was stopped by Pc Sandra Briggs who was in the court gallery awaiting another case.

Wright admitted trying to escape, burglary and handling stolen goods.

The judge at Cardiff Crown Court heard how during the hearing on 16 January, Pc Sandra Briggs stopped Wright at the court doors after he tried to make a run for it because he wanted to say to goodbye to his girlfriend after being refused bail.

Matthew Cobbe, prosecuting, said: "Wright jumped from the dock and made a run for it but Pc Briggs tackled him.

"They struggled and he dragged her through the doors - shouting that he had to say goodbye to his girlfriend."

Mr Cobbe said Pc Briggs suffered a "nasty" ankle injury and needed to spend hundreds of pounds on physiotherapy treatment.

On Tuesday, the court heard Wright had been told he would be remanded in custody after breaking into a church and student accommodation in Treforest last year.

Jane Rowley, defending, said her client has reacted the way he did because she had told him he would be bailed.

She said: "He wanted to say goodbye to his partner who has been with for eight years. Wright is also a father of three young children."