Escaped prisoner jailed after being found in pub

An escaped prisoner found playing pool in a Lincolnshire pub has been jailed for six months.

Liam Lytollis, 31, was found on 14 February after he was recognised by regulars at the White Horse pub in Gainsborough.

Lincoln Crown Court heard Lytollis had been an inmate at HMP Sudbury in Derbyshire after being sentenced to an indeterminate sentence for public protection.

Leanne Summers, mitigating, told the court Lytollis "struggled a great deal mentally" due to not knowing his release date, prompting his reason to escape.

Phil Howes, prosecuting, said Lytollis went missing from the Category D open jail during a three-hour period on the evening of 6 February.

"He had no authorisation or reason for leaving," Mr Howes told the court.

On his arrest, following a police appeal, Lytollis was found to be in possession of a knife with a three-inch blade.

Lytollis, of no fixed address, pleaded guilty to escaping from custody and possession of a bladed article.

Miss Summers told the court Lytollis had been in and out of jail since receiving an indeterminate sentence for public protection in 2011 and was recalled to jail in 2021.

She said having escaped, Lytollis visited his mother but only stayed a short while having realised his stay had put her in a difficult position.

He used the knife to get into an abandoned caravan, where he stayed during his escape, explained Miss Summers.

She added: "He went to that pub knowing he would be arrested. He was well known at that pub and told people he had escaped from custody."

Passing sentence, Recorder Adrian Jack told Lytollis there had to be a further sentence of imprisonment.

He said: "For reasons which were wholly inadequate you decided to escape from prison.

"It is a matter of great concern you should have had a bladed article in those circumstances."

Lytollis will serve the six-month prison term concurrent to his indeterminate sentence for public protection.

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