Romantic Dean Wilcox made a desperate escape on his way to jail -- because he was missing his girlfriend.

Wilcox, 25, later met up with the girl in Southend, but she decided to turn him in for his own good, Basildon Crown Court was told.

He pleaded guilty to the escape, but denied stealing police handcuffs and that charge was left on file.

Prosecutor Karen Jones said Wilcox made his break while on his way to Brixton prison in South London.

Mrs Jones said he had been sentenced to four months for driving while disqualified.

As a police car slowed down in moving traffic Wilcox, who was handcuffed, managed to give two detectives the slip by opening the car door.

However, the next day a policeman spotted him in Southend and ordered him to stay where he was, added Mrs Jones.

She said that Wilcox, of no fixed address, told the officer: "Sorry, guv. I just wanted to see my girlfriend."

In another statement, Wilcox said: "I know it was a stupid thing to do, but I wanted to see my girlfriend. This was not something I had planned."

Wilcox, who has previous convictions which include skipping bail, said he threw away the handcuffs.

When he appeared in court at Basildon he was handcuffed to a dock officer.

The court heard his girlfriend tipped off the police because she did not want him to get in more serious trouble.

Wilcox was told by Judge Zoe Smith: "This matter is so serious that only a prison sentence is appropriate." He was jailed for six months.

Published Monday, June 30, 2003

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