A sex offender branded a “menace to females” who sparked a nationwide manhunt after escaping from an open jail on a prison service bike was today (Friday) given an eight-month jail term.
Paul Robson, 56, spent four days on the run after fleeing from North Sea Camp open prison in Lincolnshire, leaving a makeshift dummy in his bed.
Robson was given a life sentence in 2000 after he sexually assaulted a woman at knifepoint and ordered to serve a minimum term of 18 years imprisonment which was endorsed by both the Lord Chief Justice and Home Secretary.
He was last seen at HMP North Sea Camp, a Category D open jail near Boston, Lincolnshire, at 11.59pm on Saturday, February 12.
His disappearance sparked a dedicated manhunt from Lincolnshire Police and drew criticism for the decision to allow his transfer to an open jail.
Robson was arrested around 25 miles away in the Lincolnshire seaside resort of Skegness at about 9.30am on Thursday, February 17 after a call from a member of the public who recognised him.
There was a short chase on foot along the seafront and Robson was detained by six officers.
Robson this morning (Friday) appeared before Lincoln Crown Court charged with two offences of escaping from custody on February 13 and the theft of a prison service pedal cycle on the same date.
Wearing a grey prison service tracksuit, Robson appeared in the glass panelled dock with cropped hair and a goatee style beard, and a pair of glasses hanging from his top.
He spoke to confirm his name and pleaded guilty to the charge of escape.
The pedal cycle theft charge was left on the file after Robson entered a not guilty plea.
Robson was convicted in August 2000 of offences including indecent assault and attempted rape and sentenced to life imprisonment.
In late January 2022 he was moved from the prison where he was being held to HMP North Sea Camp.
As he had only just got there he was not entitled to leave the prison and was in COVID isolation.
On February 13 the police were contacted by North Sea Camp and informed that he had absconded.
He was last present at a 11.59pm roll call and had put items on his bed to give the impression he was still there.
Robson was also charged with the theft of HMP pedal cycle which was found abandoned in a farm building at Hurns End around six miles from the prison.
He was eventually arrested in Skegness following a report from a member of the public after his disappearance prompted Lincolnshire Police to mount a costly “critical incident.”
Stefan Fox, prosecuting, said Robson was a post-tariff life prisoner who was moved to North Sea Camp in January this year.
Mr Fox told the court Robson was noticed missing at 6.30am on February 13 and items had been left in his bed to mislead staff.
He escaped on a prison service bike which had been lent to another inmate and left outside a resettlement unit.
The bike was found abandoned in the barn at Hurns End where Robson spent his first night before walking to Skegness.
Mr Fox told the court no one had any idea of what Robson had done during the missing three days.
When Robson was finally captured in Skegness he told police he was “glad it was over.”
During police interview Robson said he never wanted to be moved to an open prison and though North Sea Camp was a mess.
Michael Cranmer-Brown, mitigating, said Robson would remain the subject of his life sentence and would be unable to be moved to an open prison for at least two years.
The court heard Robson had been in custody since 2000 and had spent much of his sentence at HMP Whatton where he had completed all the relevant sex offender courses and was use to a regime of artwork and meditation in his Buddhist faith.
Mr Cranmer-Brown said Robson did not want to be moved to an open jail but had no choice where he was moved by the prison service.
“The parole board were given three options,” Mr Cranmer-Brown added.
“Immediate release, that was never going to happen. Remaining in closed conditions or moving to an open prison.”
Once in North Sea Camp, Robson said he found himself sharing a cramped cell with another inmate who plays on his Xbox all day, and he was unable to meditate or do any art.
“He was advised to a do a jigsaw on his bed,” Mr Cranmer-Brown added.
Mr Cranmer-Brown said Robson did pass on his concerns, but on the night of his escape waited until his cell mate was asleep and climbed out of the window after leaving a makeshift dummy in his bed.
Mr Cranmer-Brown said Robson made his way to Skegness because he had been brought up in a seaside resort and did not commit any other offences.
The court heard Robson has no family, and has become institutionalised, but still one day hopes to be released.
Passing sentence Judge Simon Hirst told Robson his eight month jail term for the escape would run alongside his life sentence.
After Robson’s capture, Ch Supt Kate Anderson, from Lincolnshire Police, thanked members of the public who had shared the force’s appeals to find him and reported potential sightings.
“At this stage, we don’t believe he had any accomplices or believe that he’s committed further offences,” she said.
Officers had worked “tirelessly” in their search, she added.
Police had issued several appeals to locate Robson after he absconded.
Further images of him were released, with the force suggesting he may have changed his appearance.
After his capture it was understood Robson was returned to a closed prison and will not be eligible to apply for parole for at least a further two years.
A Ministry of Justice spokesperson said he would “face an uphill struggle proving he can ever be trusted to move to an open prison again”.
Robson, originally from Newcastle, was jailed at Oxford Crown Court for the attempted rape and indecent assault of his victim.
The Lincolnite welcomes your views. All comments are reactively-moderated and must obey the house rules. Please stay on topic and be respectful of other readers.
Everest Xpress has been tantalising taste buds in Lincoln for over a decade with its Nepalese cuisine and the business recently added a restaurant to its successful (relocated) takeaway.
The family-owned business now operates from the unit formerly occupied by The Bombay Restaurant on The Strait in Lincoln. It is run by Kamal Basyal, Suresh Bashyal, Saraswati Dahal, and Kamal Bandari.
The takeaway had previously been located on Lincoln High Street for 10 years from June 2012 and built up a regular loyal customer base.
The Everest Xpress team: Back row – chef team Anna Pompova, Prem Kharel and Rahul Anasi; front row – chef Suresh Bashyal and food quality control manager Sharad Dahal. | Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
Chicken Nepal curry. | Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
Everest Xpress new restaurant and takeaway is located on The Strait in Lincoln. | Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
After that premises was taken over by Taco Bell, the family bought the unit on The Strait in February 2021 and renovated it, which created four new jobs to add to the existing staff team. The takeaway side of the business opened at the new premies in March 2021 before the restaurant welcomed its first customers on April 14 this year.
The Lincolnite were invited for food tasting at the new restaurant and it certainly exceeded expectation with an array of delicious flavours. Nepalese curry is less oily and Everest Xpress also uses a range of Nepalese herbs and spices, including one called Timur (Sichuan in English).
Take a look inside. | Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
The top floor of the restaurant. | Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
Hariyali Lamb. | Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
The same favourites are on the menu, as well as some newer additions including Katmandu Chicken Masala, Honey Chilli Chicken, and Vegetable Malabar.
Sharad Dahal, food quality control manager, told The Lincolnite: “We are getting more passing customers, including from outside of Lincoln, and their feedback is really good and the restaurant is going well. Our regular customers are also returning and we appreciate their support.
“Thank you to the customers for their support for 10 years on the High Street and we are excited to welcome them, and new customers, to the restaurant.”
Boneless chicken tikka pieces from the grill. | Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
Sikh kebab with mint sauce. | Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
Saag aloo. | Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
Inside the restaurant. | Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
Owner Kamal Basyal said: “We are now open as a fully licensed restaurant and have been receiving very good feedback from our existing, as well as new, customers.
Everest Xpress is open Tuesday to Thursday (5pm-10pm), Friday and Saturday (5pm-11pm), and Sunday (5pm-10pm).
A bid to get Lincolnshire County Council leaders to support a Windfall tax on oil and energy companies to tackle the cost of living crisis failed on Friday.
A motion put forward by Labour Group leader Rob Parker was supported across the Lib Dems and Independents.
However, Conservative members felt the government should be left to make its own decisions around how it helps residents. One councillor even said no-one had complained to him about problems.
Councillor Parker told members the measure – a one-off tax imposed by a government a on an unexpectedly large profit – was “essential to making sure that people who are currently finding it difficult, don’t find it even harder to make ends meet”.
“It is right and proper that what one might call obscene levels of profit should be used for public good,” he said.
Following discussion he said: “People in Lincolnshire have no idea what the conservative county council is going to do… the best we’ve got out of this is ‘let’s leave it to the government because we can trust them’.”
He added that it “tells a story” that only three Conservatives spoke against the motion as opposed to the seven who spoke for it.
Independent Councillor Phil Dilks said: “Many are already working all hours and they’re struggling to put food on the table.
“Now slapped with energy bills, many of them doubled, they certainly can’t pay… the chancellor tells us, it’s going to get even worse.”
“As food banks wonder if they’ll be able to operate next week, North Sea oil and gas are raking in billions.
“BP is making more money than they know what to do with… the windfall tax is surely the fairest way restoring the balance.”
Another supporter was Liberal Democrat Stephen Bunney who said: “The cost of living crisis is not going to disappear, in the near future it’s likely to get worse as the international situation continues to be far from stable.”
“The measures so far announced by the Chancellor are to be welcomed do not go far enough to tackle fuel poverty,” he added.
“This will give … breathing space to work on the monetary and fiscal policies that are required.”
Conservative council leader Martin Hill acknowledged the perfect storm of the pandemic and the war in Ukraine, and accepted there was a cost of living crisis.
However, he said there had already been “a massive amount of money given to tax payers” including £22bn for tax rebates or energy bill discounts, the rise in the NI payment threshold, universal credits, national living wage rises and child welfare spending.
“We need to remind ourselves that the government is not saying it’s going to do nothing.
“The Chancellor of the Exchequer and the Prime Minister have been very clear that in addition to the massive support which is currently being given out, they will give further support in terms of what needs to happen in the future,” he said.
“We should accept the government is going to do what it has to do. Which is why I will not be supporting this motion,” he added.
Councillor Anton Dani appeared to doubt there was even a problem.
“In Boston, when I go to surgeries or any charities, I haven’t met yet somebody who will complain to me as a councillor or as a representative of a council that’s a deprived place… I haven’t met anyone who complained to me that they have problems and struggling,” he said.
He said the Government had “done a great job” over the past two years and that “if you look at the economy” there were still cars being sold and that the prices were still up.
“My fellow councillors have a good cause to talk about it, but let’s not exaggerate and make it a drama,” he said.
Whatsapp
