A convicted drug dealer who fled from open prison and was on the run for seven weeks said he walked out to “free his mind”.
Terence Griffiths was jailed in December last year for his role in a heroin and cocaine supply plot. Griffiths, 37, was originally jailed in HMP Altcourse but on May 19 this year was moved to the category D open prison HMP Kirkham. Fiona McNeill told Liverpool Crown Court this morning, Monday, October 30 that inmates can openly move around the open prison and the gates remain open during the day.
On June 12 Griffiths, who was working in the prison’s gardens, walked out the prison and fled. Prison officers only noticed he was missing when he failed to answer the 11.40am role call – one of three that prisoners have to attend throughout the day. Ms McNeill told the court Griffiths absconded and was not then seen for nearly seven weeks.
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However, Griffiths was driving the car of his partner, Lisa Simmonds, on August 13 despite being disqualified from driving and not having any insurance. Ms McNeill told the court one witness said Griffiths was “driving aggressively and shouting at other drivers”.
She contacted Merseyside Police who traced the defendant. Officers arrested Griffiths the following day despite his best efforts to escape on a bicycle.
Ms McNeill told the court Griffiths has 30 convictions for 55 offences dating back to 2002. His convictions as a juvenile range from criminal damage, burglary and theft, while as an adult he has served stretches in prison for offences including robbery, which saw him jailed for seven years in 2013, and assault and harassment which resulted in 12 months in jail in 2017.
He was jailed for drug driving in 2022, which saw him disqualified from driving, and in December of the same year he started a three year sentence for conspiracy to supply heroin and cocaine. Ms Griffiths said although the defendant did not use force to escape the prison – he just walked out – these types of offences usually result in an immediate custodial sentence to “help public confidence”.
In mitigation, Bernice Campbell, defending, said there was little she could tell the court that was not covered in a letter her client had written which was “remorseless and sincere”. She told the court Griffiths had psychosis and bipolar disorder and was on two types of medication while he was at HMP Altcourse.
However, she said her client was not given the medication when he went to HMP Kirkham. She said her client described the open prison as “chaotic, overpopulated and filled with category C prisoners”. She said Griffiths said the prison’s approach to working was “cavalier” and “without structure”.
She said this did not suit her client, and he “spiralled out of control” without his medication. She said one day he just left to help “free his mind”. Griffiths was said to not remember getting home and when he was back on Merseyside he went to a friend’s house. Although he did not hand himself in and reoffended, she added “it was a different type of offending”.
Ms Campbell said her client, who has three children, wants to draw line under his offending and be a better partner and dad. Griffiths pleaded guilty to the three offences in September this year at the lower courts – and Ms Campbell added her client would rather be back in the order of HMP Altcourse than return to an open prison upon his inevitable custodial sentence.
In sentencing, Her Honour Judge Katherine Pierpoint said Griffiths had a string of previous convictions. She told him: “Escaping from custody is a serious offence and warrants an immediate custodial sentence. She added: “This is intended as a punishment but also as a deterrent.”
She added: “Open prisons work on trust and public confidence is affected by this kind of incident.” However, in mitigation she recognised his good behaviour while at HMP Altcourse, how he had struggled without his medication for his mental health issues and the remorse shown in his letter to the court.
Judge Pierpoint sentenced Griffiths, who wore a blue tracksuit, had short dark hair and beard and a neck tattoo, to eight months imprisonment to be served consecutively to his current sentence. He was also banned from driving for 12 months with an eight month uplift to take into consideration the time he will be in prison.
Griffiths, who was supported by his partner and mum in court, was told off by Judge Pierpoint during the prosecution’s facts for repeatedly turning around to speak with them.
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William Turner is a seasoned U.K. correspondent with a deep understanding of domestic affairs. With a passion for British politics and culture, he provides insightful analysis and comprehensive coverage of events within the United Kingdom.
