A MAN who failed to turn up at Stevenage Magistrates Court six weeks ago was caught after an on-foot chase yesterday (Thursday), when he was spotted by eagle-eyed Safer Neighbourhood officers in Stevenage town centre.

Stevenage officers Pc Andy Keenan and Police Community Support Officer Jo Pinn were patrolling their town centre beat, when a man walked past who they both immediately recognised as having absconded from Stevenage Magistrates Court six weeks previously.

When realising he had been spotted, the 18-year-old ran off with the two officers in pursuit.

After attempting to conceal himself in a parked car, the man was arrested, and will now be sent to serve a 30 day sentence in a Young Offenders’ Institution.

On the day he absconded, the man, who is from Stevenage, was found guilty by magistrates of breaching a Young Offenders’ Supervision Order.

Whilst being asked to wait at the back of the court while the bench made its decision on his sentence, he made off from the court, and a warrant was issued for his arrest.

This arrest of a wanted person was the second in as many days, as this morning (Friday), PCSO Pinn spotted another man who had been wanted for theft from a Stevenage pub since the end of October.

Whilst keeping the 30-year-old in sight, she radioed for colleagues, who attended. He was subsequently arrested and is currently in custody awaiting questioning.

“All our team have such exceptional local knowledge that reaps rewards over and over again,” said Stevenage Sergeant Ian Blundell.

“But Jo has done particularly well with spotting two suspects in just two days.”