Thief escapes prison, then begs to return

A thief escaped from an open jail only to return to three days later and implore prison staff to take him back in.

The Sun reported that Wesley Crawford, 42, said to workers at the jail: "Please take me back, it’s much more cushy in prison."

The incident amazed staff at Sudbury open prison in Derbyshire.

A source there said: "We couldn't believe it. To come knocking on the door and asking to be taken back in is amazing."

Things didn't work out exactly as Mr Crawford might have wished as he was sent instead to a closed prison.

However, the Sudbury prison source said that Mr Crawford was still happier to be "inside".

"He basically said that it was much more cushy being inside prison than it was on the outside. And he still believes that – even though he has now been sent to a closed prison."

Mr Crawford was sentenced to 12 years for robbery in July 2001 at Stafford Crown Court.