AN inmate who walked out of an open prison not long before his due release date was re-captured 15-months later, hiding out at a caravan park on the North-East coast.

Durham Crown Court heard that Benjamin Anderson received a six-year prison sentence after being convicted of attempted robbery, in 2014.

He spent time in different jails, but, as he neared early release, at the mid-point of his sentence, in October 2016, he was in an open prison, in Warrington, Cheshire.

Louise Harrison, prosecuting, told the court: “This was very much a walk-out, rather than a jail break-out.

“There was a plan, whereby, as he approached his release date, he was being temporarily released on consecutive Sundays.

“Before his release came about, he took it upon himself to just leave.

“It was on October 20, 2016, that he was found to be missing, at roll call at HMP Thorn Cross. It was some time later that he came to be re-captured.”

Miss Harrison said as part of a separate investigation, police went to Crimdon Dene Caravan Park, on the County Durham coast, and while carrying out those other inquiries, came across Anderson, who was arrested, on January 23.

“So, it was 15-months in all that the defendant was at large.”

But, she said when he came to be interviewed, he could not be questioned by police due to his behaviour in custody.

“He was unable to take part in a proper interview and, therefore, there was no explanation as to his ‘escape’, or the reasons for him absconding.”

Anderson, 38, admitted escape from lawful custody.

The court heard the defendant, who hails from the Manchester area, has 24 convictions for 59 offences, between 1996 and 2014.

Jonathan Harley, mitigating, told the court: “He was in an open prison guarded only by a waist-high wall, which he just hopped over.”

Mr Harley said it was a mixture of personal and family reasons that he decided to walk out, while Anderson was also frustrated at the lack of opportunities afforded him while at Thorn Cross.

Jailing him for a further nine months, Judge Christopher Prince told Anderson: “You were on a release plan when you took it upon yourself just to walk-out, being trusted not to leave.”