Prison escapee caught after breaking into shop

A SERIAL criminal who escaped from prison by simply walking out remained at large for three months and was only caught when he burgled a shop.

- By ROB KENNEDY Court reporter

Michael Curran, who has more than 100 convictions on his record and once got 15 years for causing grievous bodily harm with intent, had been moved to an open prison and was a few months from being released.

However, he decided he wanted to head home to the North East to sort out his personal life so he absconded.

And it was only when he was caught breaking into a butchers and beer shop in Newcastle that the law finally caught up with him.

Now Curran has been jailed for 12 months but, as he has already been recalled to prison on a previous sentence, the latest prison term will not increase his time behind bars.

Newcastle Crown Court heard he was serving a sentence at HMP Kirkham, a Category D open prison in Preston, having been moved there on July 3.