A prisoner managed to escape from a custody officer while being transferred to court after assaulting her and pulling free of his handcuffs. He went on to assault another custody officer who tried to stop him from escaping.

Melvin Chesaites, 25, of Barry, was found to have driven a Peugeot in Cardiff on September 10 after he was disqualified from driving for two years and he also had no insurance. He was arrested four days later for unrelated matters and was found in possession of a small amount of cannabis in his pocket.

A sentencing hearing at Newport Crown Court on Friday heard Chesaites was charged and was transported from prison to Cardiff Magistrates' Court on October 16. He was in the process of being moved from the custody van to court and was restrained with one hand placed in a handcuff, which was also attached to a custody officer.

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The defendant pulled hard on the handcuff which resulted in the custody officer being pulled to the floor. In the melee Chesaites was able to slip free. Another custody officer attempted to detain him but he was forced to the floor and suffered grazes to his knees.

The first custody officer suffered injuries to her wrist, fractures to her fingers, and a tendon injury. The defendant was found three hours later and arrested.

Chesaites, of Hathaway Place, later pleaded guilty to escaping from lawful custody, assault occasioning actual bodily harm, assaulting an emergency worker, driving while disqualified, driving without insurance, and possession of cannabis. The court heard he had 20 previous convictions including taking a vehicle without consent.

In mitigation the court heard the defendant had become drug-free while in prison and dislocated his ring finger during the escape. Defence barrister Martha Smith-Higgins said her client had children whom he wishes to focus on once he is released from prison.

Sentencing, Recorder Dyfed Thomas said: "[The custody officers] weren't just keeping you in custody, they were looking after you, and you rewarded that woman by pulling away with your considerable strength and caused her injury which still causes her pain now." Chesaites was sentenced to a total of eight months imprisonment. He was also disqualified from driving for 10 months.

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