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A prisoner who broke out of jail to spend Christmas with his girlfriend was caught hiding in her attic.

Sean Harding spent five weeks as a free man from December 22 to January 29 of this year, until police officers searched his partner's home where he was standing on the loft hatch to keep them out.

The 37-year-old crook from Stockton, Teesside, pleaded guilty in court via videolink on Tuesday to absconding from a Lancashire Category D prison, TeessideLive reports.

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Teesside Crown Court heard Harding's emotional explanation behind his disappearing act over Christmas which he wanted to spend with the 'only person in his life'.

Outlining the case, prosecutor Tabitha Buck said at around 3pm on December 22, 2022, an inmate told prison officers at HMP Kirkham that Harding had absconded from custody. A search was carried out but it was weeks before Harding was caught.

She said: "His supervisors conducted a search of his workplace which was a very large farm with garden areas attached to the prison facility. A special role check was conducted of the whole prison but he was not found."

The court heard around five weeks later on the morning of January 29, police attended his girlfriend's address on Londonderry Road, in Stockton. The 37-year-old hid in the attic and stood on the hatch to try and evade police but was caught and arrested.

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That night whilst in custody, Harding told officers: "I haven't alleged to have absconded, I have absconded I admit it. I should be at Kirkham and I am here.

"I ran away from the pig farm as I wanted to be home for Christmas. My dad has died and I only have one person in my life which is my girlfriend. I wanted to spend Christmas with her."

Ms Buck said the defendant has 42 convictions for 132 offences and refused to take part in a police interview following his admissions. Despite this, his barrister Nicci Horton said there was no violence used or damage caused during the incident, she said: "He walked out and didn't commit any further offences or revert back to drug use."

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Addressing the defendant, Recorder Ata Dallas said: "I hope it was a good Christmas but there is time to pay. This is an offence so serious only an immediate custodial sentence is possible for you."

During sentencing, Harding shouted 'I hate it in here Your Honour' but was told he must serve a jail sentence. Recorder Dallas handed Harding, of no fixed address, an eight-month prison sentence. He was also ordered to pay a victim surcharge.

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