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| Prison officer feared death during gunman jailbreak | Prison officer feared death during gunman jailbreak |
| (about 1 month later) | |
| A prison officer wept as she told a jury she feared she was about to be killed when a gunman demanded she free a prisoner in her custody. | A prison officer wept as she told a jury she feared she was about to be killed when a gunman demanded she free a prisoner in her custody. |
| Kim Lockwood initially believed it was a training exercise when a man pointed a gun at her head outside West Suffolk hospital, in Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, a court heard. | Kim Lockwood initially believed it was a training exercise when a man pointed a gun at her head outside West Suffolk hospital, in Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, a court heard. |
| The incident, on 25 January, led to the escape of Andrew Farndon, who had been jailed for grievous bodily harm after fracturing his victim's skull in a hammer attack. | The incident, on 25 January, led to the escape of Andrew Farndon, who had been jailed for grievous bodily harm after fracturing his victim's skull in a hammer attack. |
| Woolwich crown court heard he had been taken to hospital after suffering a knife wound to his shoulder at Highpoint prison in Stradishall, Suffolk. Farndon's former jailmate Garry Cowan, 44, is accused of possession of a replica handgun with intent to cause fear of violence, and assisting an offender to escape, which he denies. | Woolwich crown court heard he had been taken to hospital after suffering a knife wound to his shoulder at Highpoint prison in Stradishall, Suffolk. Farndon's former jailmate Garry Cowan, 44, is accused of possession of a replica handgun with intent to cause fear of violence, and assisting an offender to escape, which he denies. |
| Lockwood said that she felt a gun being pressed against her head moments after stepping out of a taxi used to travel to the hospital. | Lockwood said that she felt a gun being pressed against her head moments after stepping out of a taxi used to travel to the hospital. |
| Giving evidence behind a screen, Lockwood said: "As we got out of the car I could obviously feel what I realised was the gun at my head. I was looking at Mr Farndon. He started saying, 'I'm sorry miss, let me go'." | Giving evidence behind a screen, Lockwood said: "As we got out of the car I could obviously feel what I realised was the gun at my head. I was looking at Mr Farndon. He started saying, 'I'm sorry miss, let me go'." |
| Asked by prosecutor Gregory Perrins what she thought was happening, Lockwood replied: "At first, that it was a training thing work had set up … but very quickly it went out of my head." | Asked by prosecutor Gregory Perrins what she thought was happening, Lockwood replied: "At first, that it was a training thing work had set up … but very quickly it went out of my head." |
| Lockwood told jurors she was ordered by the gunman to release Farndon, who was handcuffed to her at the time. | Lockwood told jurors she was ordered by the gunman to release Farndon, who was handcuffed to her at the time. |
| She alerted her colleague Chris Matson, who held the keys to the handcuffs but had remained in the car and was unaware of the events unfolding outside, jurors heard. | She alerted her colleague Chris Matson, who held the keys to the handcuffs but had remained in the car and was unaware of the events unfolding outside, jurors heard. |
| "The gunman said he had 10 seconds to get the cuffs off or he was going to shoot us," Lockwood said. "He [Matson] was struggling to get the keys out because he was shaking at the same time." Asked by the prosecution what she feared may happen, she said: "That I was going to die", before breaking down in tears. | "The gunman said he had 10 seconds to get the cuffs off or he was going to shoot us," Lockwood said. "He [Matson] was struggling to get the keys out because he was shaking at the same time." Asked by the prosecution what she feared may happen, she said: "That I was going to die", before breaking down in tears. |
| After being released, Farndon and the gunman fled the scene, the court heard. | After being released, Farndon and the gunman fled the scene, the court heard. |
| Lockwood described the gunman as white, in his late 30s or early 40s, about 5ft 6in and wearing a white glove at the time of the incident. | Lockwood described the gunman as white, in his late 30s or early 40s, about 5ft 6in and wearing a white glove at the time of the incident. |
| Although initially unable to provide police with a description, she later picked out a man she believed was the gunman from photographs shown to her by officers. | Although initially unable to provide police with a description, she later picked out a man she believed was the gunman from photographs shown to her by officers. |
| Lockwood also recalled later that the man had spoken with a "broad Scottish accent". | Lockwood also recalled later that the man had spoken with a "broad Scottish accent". |
| During cross-examination, defence lawyer Francis McGrath said: "Is it possible you recognised Mr Cowan … and leapt to the conclusion he was the gunman?" | During cross-examination, defence lawyer Francis McGrath said: "Is it possible you recognised Mr Cowan … and leapt to the conclusion he was the gunman?" |
| "No, not all," Lockwood replied. | "No, not all," Lockwood replied. |
| "I've got no doubt in my mind at all that the person I picked out was the gunman," she added. | "I've got no doubt in my mind at all that the person I picked out was the gunman," she added. |
| Giving evidence, Matson said his priority was to undo the handcuffs to ensure he and Lockwood were no longer in danger. | Giving evidence, Matson said his priority was to undo the handcuffs to ensure he and Lockwood were no longer in danger. |
| "In fear of my life and my colleague Kim's life, my priority was to get the cuffs off," he said. | "In fear of my life and my colleague Kim's life, my priority was to get the cuffs off," he said. |
| Matson's description of the gunman to police following the incident allowed an efit image of the suspect to be produced, the court heard. | Matson's description of the gunman to police following the incident allowed an efit image of the suspect to be produced, the court heard. |
| The case continues. | The case continues. |
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