A DANGEROUS man on the run from prison burgled a pensioner’s home.
That pensioner, Ian Donald, 84, was commended by a crown court judge after he locked escaped prisoner Stephen George Lloyd in his home and raised the alarm.
By the time police arrived Lloyd had smashed his way out of the pensioner’s house and later the same day robbed a cleaner at a local gym.
A man hunt got under way and Lloyd, 40, was tracked by police to a house in Shotton.
Lloyd, of Victoria Road, Saltney, was jailed for five years at Chester Crown Court after he admitted absconding from prison, burglary and robbery.
But an indeterminate sentence imposed on him in 2006 under the dangerousness provisions for a previous attempted robbery remains in force and he will only be released when the parole board consider it is safe.
The court heard that Lloyd had been transferred from Risley to Kirkham Open Prison in August last year in readiness for potential release.
But he disappeared in October and was reported missing.
Six days later he was in Chester and when he heard police sirens decided to get off the street.
He knocked on the door of the house belonging to Mr Donald in St Mark’s Road, Saltney, and when the door was opened he pushed his way in.
Lloyd, a well built man, said the police were after him and demanded his phone.
The terrified pensioner was locked in his front room at one stage while Lloyd was upstairs using the phone.
Lloyd told him: “You stay here and you will be alright.”
But when Lloyd was upstairs the plucky pensioner took his chance and left, locking Lloyd inside.
He went to a neighbour’s house and raised the alarm.
But Lloyd smashed his way out of a kitchen window and fled, taking the pensioner’s phone with him, said Oliver King, prosecuting.
Some hours later Lloyd carried out a robbery at the LA Fitness gym in Wrexham Road, Chester, where he had also tried to carry out a robbery some years earlier.
He removed a seal from around a window and got inside, but when he was confronted by cleaner William Saunders, 50, late at night, Lloyd punched him in the face and stole his mobile phone.
Mr Saunders was ordered to remain on the floor and was told if he alerted anyone he would dead.
The victim lay motionless on the floor for several minutes, fearing he would be killed.
Police arrested Lloyd at a house in Shotton on October 30 and he was returned to prison.
Lloyd, who had a number of previous convictions, was told by the Recorder of Chester, Judge Elgan Edwards: “You absconded and you showed by your conduct that you are still dangerous.”
Judge Edwards said he was extremely impressed by the conduct of the burglary victim Mr Donald and awarded him a crown court commendation.
“It must have been a terrifying experience for him but he behaved with considerable presence of mind. He locked the defendant in his house and telephoned the police. He behaved in a thoroughly commendable fashion,” the judge said.
“I am sorry he was so frightened but in the circumstances he behaved very courageously.”
William Beardmore, defending, said Lloyd had escaped from prison because he was being bullied by relatives of one of his previous victims.
He went to the house in Chester not knowing it was the home of an elderly man after he heard police sirens.
While the pensioner would have been terrified there were no threats and no violence.
Lloyd then went to the gym which he had broken into previously because he wanted shelter and money. It was close to midnight and he had not expected anyone to be present.
“He knows he has done wrong,” said Mr Beardmore.