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| Manhunt for rapist Bradley Tout after court escape | Manhunt for rapist Bradley Tout after court escape |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| A rapist who leapt from the dock and ran out of court moments after being convicted is being hunted by police. | A rapist who leapt from the dock and ran out of court moments after being convicted is being hunted by police. |
| Jurors at Worcester Crown Court unanimously convicted Bradley Tout, 20, of an attack on a teenage girl, in December 2016. | Jurors at Worcester Crown Court unanimously convicted Bradley Tout, 20, of an attack on a teenage girl, in December 2016. |
| Upon hearing the verdict, Tout "vaulted" from the dock and was able to evade court officers during a chase. | Upon hearing the verdict, Tout "vaulted" from the dock and was able to evade court officers during a chase. |
| Security firm GeoAmey confirmed the escape and said one officer had to be taken to hospital with injuries. | Security firm GeoAmey confirmed the escape and said one officer had to be taken to hospital with injuries. |
| No police officers were at court when Tout made his escape shortly after 16:00 BST on Wednesday, West Mercia Police said. | |
| 'Never seen that before' | |
| Those present at the hearing told the BBC Tout could be seen with both hands on the 4ft-high dock shortly before he jumped over it | |
| No action was taken to apprehend him in the courtroom, they said, and a communications breakdown meant staff did not know who to stop when a panic alarm was set off. | |
| Tout was able to run out of the courtroom before passing security officers and running through a metal detector onto the street outside. | |
| During an altercation outside, the court officer suffered suspected broken ribs and bruising. | |
| According to those who were in the courtroom, Judge Nicholas Cartwright told jurors he had "never seen anything like that happen before". | |
| Supt Paul Moxley, of West Mercia Police, said a GeoAmey court officer "did give chase" to Tout but was "unable to catch up with him". | |
| At a sentencing hearing after his escape, Tout, of Durham Road, Worcester, was jailed for seven and a half years in his absence. | At a sentencing hearing after his escape, Tout, of Durham Road, Worcester, was jailed for seven and a half years in his absence. |
| His co-defendant, Kullin Odedra, 28, from Canterbury Road, Worcester, was jailed for 11 and a half years for three counts of rape and one count of attempted rape. | His co-defendant, Kullin Odedra, 28, from Canterbury Road, Worcester, was jailed for 11 and a half years for three counts of rape and one count of attempted rape. |
| The court heard the attacks happened in Tout's car after he parked behind a skip in County Hall in December 2016. | |
| Judge Cartwright said Tout was a "manipulative liar" who treated his victim "like a sexual commodity". | |
| "He's committed a very serious offence and now he's committed more offences by escaping from lawful custody," said Supt Moxley. | "He's committed a very serious offence and now he's committed more offences by escaping from lawful custody," said Supt Moxley. |
| Anyone harbouring or assisting Tout "should also expect to be arrested", he said. | Anyone harbouring or assisting Tout "should also expect to be arrested", he said. |
| Police described the 20-year-old as white, 5ft 8ins, with short mousey brown hair. He was wearing a white top and dark trousers when he escaped. | Police described the 20-year-old as white, 5ft 8ins, with short mousey brown hair. He was wearing a white top and dark trousers when he escaped. |
| Supt Moxley said he did not believe Tout to be dangerous and appealed for anyone with information to contact police immediately. | Supt Moxley said he did not believe Tout to be dangerous and appealed for anyone with information to contact police immediately. |