Dramatic Six Nations scenes were re-enacted at Woolwich Crown Court as Judge Douglas Marks Moore rugby tackled a convicted sex offender to the ground during an attempted escape.
Paul Reid was on trial last August when he saw a gap open up in the defence and ran for it, aiming for an unlocked fire door. Unfortunately for Reid, he hadn't banked on the judge twice dump tackling him and sending him crashing to the ground, all hopes of freedom destroyed. Marks Moore then restrained the miscreant, quelling his "struggling and protesting" until officers arrived.
Rupert Gregory for the prosecution said "the only thing preventing Paul Reid from pushing that fire door to the outside world was a judge in a wig and full robes". Admittedly, that must be a terrifying sight. Especially when said judge - a former Irish Guardsman - is bounding after you, grabbing at your throat.
Reid is a criminal with a long record of courtroom flight. Not only had he ran twice from Snaresbrook Crown Court, but had previously managed to escape from Inner London Crown Court in 2008 following a conviction for indecent assault, although he later told police that the presiding judge had told him he could go home. Good effort.
Yesterday the "extremely dangerous" Reid - perhaps mindful of the fingerprints on his neck - changed his plea to guilty and was (his previous convictions for rape being taken into account) sentenced to life in prison.
For another fighting lawyer - check out this week's Glamorous Solicitor.
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Paul Reid was on trial last August when he saw a gap open up in the defence and ran for it, aiming for an unlocked fire door. Unfortunately for Reid, he hadn't banked on the judge twice dump tackling him and sending him crashing to the ground, all hopes of freedom destroyed. Marks Moore then restrained the miscreant, quelling his "struggling and protesting" until officers arrived.
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Judge Marks Moore takes on Paul Reid. How it definitely didn't look. |
Rupert Gregory for the prosecution said "the only thing preventing Paul Reid from pushing that fire door to the outside world was a judge in a wig and full robes". Admittedly, that must be a terrifying sight. Especially when said judge - a former Irish Guardsman - is bounding after you, grabbing at your throat.
Reid is a criminal with a long record of courtroom flight. Not only had he ran twice from Snaresbrook Crown Court, but had previously managed to escape from Inner London Crown Court in 2008 following a conviction for indecent assault, although he later told police that the presiding judge had told him he could go home. Good effort.
Yesterday the "extremely dangerous" Reid - perhaps mindful of the fingerprints on his neck - changed his plea to guilty and was (his previous convictions for rape being taken into account) sentenced to life in prison.
For another fighting lawyer - check out this week's Glamorous Solicitor.