Sheffield man escaped from cops for breaching court order

Liam Fretwell was banned from contacting his ex-partner for three years by a restraining order, imposed in November 2019, after he was convicted of battery, prosecutor James Baird told Sheffield Crown Court.

He was caught trying to flee through the back door of her Swallownest home, at 9am, on September 25, last year.

But when officers returned on November 10, the woman admitted Fretwell was there, and they found him hiding under a bed.

"He began struggling and became aggressive," said Mr Baird. "He pulled the officers on to the landing and Parva spray was deployed, but he managed to escape."

One WPC was left with an injured neck and shoulder and the other suffered bruising and whiplash.

Fretwell was arrested the next day and admitted visiting her several times, but claimed not to know why he was doing it.

The court heard he has three previous convictions for seven offences and has been in custody since November 12, last year.

Joy Merriam, mitigating, said the “beneficiary of the restraining order hadn't complained to police.”

A relative and a social worker had raised the alarm, she said, and there was "clearly complicity" between Fretwell and the woman.

Fretwell, 30, of Park Avenue, Sheffield, pleaded guilty to two counts of assaulting an emergency worker, escape, and two breaches of a restraining order.

Sentencing him to a total of eight months, Recorder Taryn Turner said: "I hope you have had time to cool your heels and reflect."

Read the latest cases from Sheffield Crown Court here.

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