Care worker’s jail warning after helping escapee

A social care assistant who helped a prisoner escape from a secure unit in north Suffolk has been warned she faces a spell behind bars when she is sentenced next month.

At a hearing at Ipswich Crown Court yesterday, Rebecca Martin, 22, of Greys Manor, Barnham, pleaded guilty to assisting Luke Sparks to escape from St John’s House in Palgrave, Diss on October 2.

Adjourning sentence until the
week commencing January 30 for a pre-sentence report Judge Rupert Overbury told Martin she had
pleaded guilty to an extremely serious offence.

“It is highly likely you will receive a custodial sentence. It is an appalling breach of trust when someone aids and abets someone who is suffering from a psychiatric illness to escape from lawful custody,” said the judge.

He released her on conditional bail.

Luke Sparks, 21, of Weston-super-Mare admitted escaping from lawful custody and sentence was adjourned until the same occasion as Martin for up-to-date psychiatric reports to be prepared on him.

He is currently being detained at Broadmoor.