London Judge, in Wig and Full Robes, Tackled Escaping Sex Offender, Prosecutor Says
A 60-year-old judge, in his wig and full robes, wrestled a prisoner almost half his age to the ground to stop him from fleeing his own trial, a prosecutor told jurors Tuesday.
Jurors were told that in August, Paul Reid—who already had an indecent assault conviction—tried to escape from his rape trial in Woolwich Crown Court in London, prompting Judge Douglas Marks Moore to rugby-tackle him to the ground, report the Guardian and the Express & Star. Reid’s flee attempt came after he gave evidence from the witness box at his trial, prosecutor Rupert Gregory said Tuesday.
“The judge gave chase. Just as Mr. Reid was about to open a push-handle fire door, Marks Moore rugby-tackled him around the throat and waist and brought him crashing to the ground, landing on top of him,” Gregory said.
The cat-and-mouse chase ended with Reid on the ground “struggling and protesting, until the prison officers managed to catch up, secure him and return him to custody,” Gregory explained.
Jurors were told this was not the first time Reid tried to flee a London court: He made a similar escape attempt from Inner London Crown Court in 2008, the Express & Star reported.
After scrutinizing his case and asking Judge Jeremy Roberts for an indication of sentence, Reid pleaded guilty to two escape charges, the BBC reports. The plea change came one hour before Judge Moore was set to retell the story of how he wrestled the courtroom-fleeing Reid to the ground last year. Reid, who faces life in prison, will be sentenced Thursday.
