Tivyside | Archive | 2003 | April | 9
From the Tivyside Advertiser, first published Wednesday 9th Apr 2003.
A CARDIGAN man who escaped from police custody - for a second time - was jailed for 14 months by a judge at Swansea Crown Court last week.
Michel John Valmont, 25, struggled free after being arrested by police during a domestic incident. The court heard it was not the first time he had "sprung" himself. In 1996 he got out of Cardigan police station by removing a grill.
Robin Rouch, prosecuting, said the latest incident happened on April 20 last year when police were called to a disturbance at the home of his girlfriend, Catrin Thomas. Valmont was arrested but managed to break free. Four days later he gave himself up at Cardigan police station.
In July 2002, he broke into The Willows, Llanybydder, and stole £4,000 worth of items from a garage. On July 19 he broke into a shed at a house in Llanybydder, and stole a strimmer and some items from a van. Shortly afterwards police came across a Honda car on its roof in the middle of the road. The occupants had fled but nearby was a chainsaw which had come from The Willows.
Later that month Valmont was arrested on suspicion of being involved in the burglary.
The court heard that Valmont had previous convictions for 90 other offences.
His barrister, Rhys Davies said Valmont had been addicted to heroin and crack cocaine during the period of the offending.
Valmont, of Ridgeway, Cardigan, admitted escaping from custody and two offences of burglary.
© Newsquest Media Group 2008