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| Police pick up killer at Southport McDonald's drive-thru | Police pick up killer at Southport McDonald's drive-thru |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| A convicted killer, who went on the run for 17 days, was caught by chance when police were called to a McDonald's drive-thru, a court has heard. | A convicted killer, who went on the run for 17 days, was caught by chance when police were called to a McDonald's drive-thru, a court has heard. |
| Thomas Parkinson, who was eligible for parole having served his minimum term, absconded from HMP Kirkham on 24 April. | Thomas Parkinson, who was eligible for parole having served his minimum term, absconded from HMP Kirkham on 24 April. |
| He was found on 12 May after the fast food outlet on Southport's Ocean Plaza reported concerns that the driver of a car he was in had been drinking. | He was found on 12 May after the fast food outlet on Southport's Ocean Plaza reported concerns that the driver of a car he was in had been drinking. |
| The 32-year-old, from Preston, admitted absconding at Liverpool Crown Court. | The 32-year-old, from Preston, admitted absconding at Liverpool Crown Court. |
| He was sentenced to four months in prison, to run in addition to his existing sentence. | He was sentenced to four months in prison, to run in addition to his existing sentence. |
| Parkinson was jailed for life with a minimum tariff of 12 years in 2007 for stabbing Shaun Higgins at a house party in Preston. | |
| Release 'some way off' | Release 'some way off' |
| The court heard Parkinson, who was transferred to HMP Kirkham in September last year, absconded after losing patience while waiting for home release. | |
| Nardeen Nemat, prosecuting, said 17 days after Parkinson left the jail, police were called to the Southport drive-thru over concerns about the man driving the car. | Nardeen Nemat, prosecuting, said 17 days after Parkinson left the jail, police were called to the Southport drive-thru over concerns about the man driving the car. |
| Officers found a black Ford Fiesta parked in a bay and as they approached it, Parkinson jumped out of a rear passenger seat and ran off, she said. | |
| However, police gave chase and was caught him hiding behind a nearby wall. | However, police gave chase and was caught him hiding behind a nearby wall. |
| Ms Nemat told the court Parkinson had left the jail via a fire door and claimed he "walked out due to threats to him while in prison", though he would not say who had made them. | Ms Nemat told the court Parkinson had left the jail via a fire door and claimed he "walked out due to threats to him while in prison", though he would not say who had made them. |
| Michael Bagley, defending, said on return to prison, he had been making good progress. | Michael Bagley, defending, said on return to prison, he had been making good progress. |
| Sentencing him, Judge Stuart Driver QC told Parkinson that as a result of his escape, his release from his life sentence was "some way off in the future". | Sentencing him, Judge Stuart Driver QC told Parkinson that as a result of his escape, his release from his life sentence was "some way off in the future". |