A PRISONER sent unescorted in a taxi for treatment at a Blackpool hospital didn't return.
Alan Holmes instead decided to use his unexpected freedom to visit his girlfriend in Blackburn. But his week on the run cost Holmes an extra eight weeks on his two-and-a-half year sentence he is currently serving for burglary.
Holmes, 33, of Pump Street, Blackburn, pleaded guilty to being unlawfully at large having been temporarily released.
Stephen Parker, defending, said the magistrates might be surprised that less than a month after being sentenced, Holmes had been downgraded to a Category D prisoner and transferred to Kirkham open prison. Mr Parker said a huge temptation had been put in front of Holmes.
"He had been at Kirkham for six weeks with no attempt at escape but being put in a taxi and sent to Blackpool was a temptation he couldn't resist," he added.
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