Barrister foils escape bidBy Wanstead and Woodford GuardianA HAVE-A-GO hero barrister restrained a violent criminal after he tried to escape from custody at Snaresbrook Crown Court. The courageous legal eagle wrestled 40-year-old Michael Kendall to the floor after the convicted robber headbutted a woman security guard, jumped over the dock and tried to flee the courtroom. It was Kendall's second bid for freedom; he successfully walked out of the Crown court in June unchallenged, while the jury retired to consider its verdict after his trial for aggravated vehicle taking. He was convicted in his absence and was later caught. He appeared last Tuesday to be sentenced for his crime, but lashed out at the female Securicor guard standing beside him in the dock. A police spokeswoman said: "He headbutted the security officer and jumped the dock. She was left with swelling to her left cheek and a bruised knee. "As he landed, the prosecution barrister grabbed hold of him and he fell to the floor. The security officer raised the alarm while the barrister detained him on the floor. "While on the floor he kicked out violently and caught the security officer on her left knee." Heading the investigation, Ilford Detective Constable Steve Senk said: "The barrister acted very bravely by bringing Kendall down from behind with a bear hug. Not many would have a go like that. "The security officer, who is in her 20s, was also very courageous. It was obviously an unprovoked attack and she was left very shaken up after her ordeal. She's been signed off work for an unknown period of time." Commenting on the level of security used to detain Kendall in the dock, DC Senk added: "As he wasn't being held in police custody at the time his security comes under the jurisdiction of Securicor." A spokeswoman for Securicor said: "Each prisoner is given a risk assessment by the Prison Service and we then have to apply to the court for permission to use handcuffs in the dock. The final decision rests with the judge. "Putting a defendant in handcuffs in the dock could suggest to the jury that they are guilty. We have to consider prisoner's human rights in accordance with the Human Rights Act. "I don't think a mistake happened in this case, but unfortunately someone got assaulted. However, if there are any lessons to be learned from this, we will." Kendall has been sent to Pentonville Prison to serve a five-year sentence, but will face further charges in relation to his escape from custody and assault. 12:51 Thursday 26th September 2002
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