Escaped Prisoner Rammed Police Vehicles During Four-Month Fugitive Period
Jay Bennett, who had been on the run since December, used his car to evade capture before being apprehended.
An escaped prisoner, identified as 33-year-old Jay Bennett, rammed armed police vehicles with his car on March 24 outside the Fitness Factory gym in Coventry. Bennett had been on the run for four months after escaping HMP Sudbury in Derbyshire in December, where he was serving a nine-year sentence.
Bodycam footage captured the incident, showing officers surrounding Bennett's black Volkswagen Golf. As officers attempted to stop him, Bennett accelerated, swerving and colliding with parked vehicles before a police car forced his vehicle into a wall. Armed officers then removed Bennett from the car and arrested him. Fortunately, no one was injured during the attempted escape.
Bennett, who has no fixed address, was charged with 18 offenses, including absconding from prison, three counts of driving while disqualified, three counts of criminal damage, two counts of attempting to escape from custody, and dangerous driving. He pleaded guilty to absconding and driving offenses and was found guilty of the remaining charges.
On September 28, Bennett was sentenced to three-and-a-half years in prison at Warwick Crown Court.