A suspect who escaped from a prison van in just his boxer shorts and socks and evaded police for two days has been sent back to jail.
Kyle Eglington, made his bid for freedom while being transported to HMP Winchester, Hants.
He had just appeared at Poole Magistrates' Court, Dorset, where he was accused of carrying out an aggravated burglary with a sword.
During the journey Eglington, 33, attempted to hang himself with his clothing in the back of the van.
One of the guards entered the cell and saved him.
The van driver stopped the vehicle and tried to help her colleague contain the accused.
CCTV footage showed that once Eglington had been freed he started lashing out at the two guards.
The semi-naked prisoner then escaped the van through the side door and fled on foot at 11.13am on March 26 last year.
Both prison guards were injured during the incident and one of them had to be taken to hospital after being bitten on the forearm.
A manhunt was carried out by Dorset Police until Eglington was arrested at Brook Road in Bournemouth two days later.
He pleaded guilty to escaping lawful custody and two counts of actual bodily harm before being sentenced at Bournemouth Crown Court.
Shona Probert, prosecuting described the incident as a 'spontaneous and impulsive' bid for freedom.
She said: "On the 26th March Mr Eglington was being transferred from Poole Magistrates' Court to Winchester Prison.
"Miss Carpenter was driving the van and at 11.08 they were driving along Bournemouth Road when Mr Eglington tried to tie his t-shirt around his neck.
"The van was stopped and the t-shirt was taken away from him.
"They then set off again but then Mr Eglington started tying his trousers around his neck.
"One of the guards managed to get into the cell, take off the safety latch and untie him.
"There was then a scuffle and Mr Eglington bit the forearm of the guard.
"Miss Carpenter went back into the van to help her colleague and suffered significant bruising during the struggle.
"Mr Egligton managed to get into the main area of the van and escape through the side door onto Brook Road.
"When he was arrested two days later he gave a false name and struggled as he was arrested."
Leslie Smith, mitigating, argued that the offence would never have occurred if Mr Eglington had not appeared in court for a crime he did not commit.
He said: "The context is important in this case as to how Mr Eglington found himself in the back of that prison van.
"He had been arrested in relation to a very serious case of aggravated burglarly involving the use of a sword.
"Forensics never found any evidence that Mr Eglington had ever been there and the charges against him were dropped.
"He pleaded not guilty and he indicated who he thought it had been.
"It was in this context that he was being transported to Winchester Prison, for an offence he had not committed.
"It was an impulsive decision to try to flee that prison van.
"Mr Eglington fully acknowledges that the prison guards were just doing their jobs and thanks them for saving his life.
"Without their efforts he would never have had the opportunity to meet his baby daughter who was born in October while he was in prison.
"His behaviour in prison has been described as outstanding by his supervising officer."
In jailing him for 20 months, Judge Keith Cutler acknowledged Eglington's good behaviour while in prison but emphasised the importance of protecting prison staff.
He said: "The bottom line is the extent of the injuries inflicted on both guards was significant.
"You assaulted the custody staff who were trying to prevent you from harming yourself.
"Rather than thank them what happened was something of a fight.
"One of the guards had to go to hospital as there was blood running down his arm from a bite.
"I have to make the point that staff deserve the protection of the courts. They should never be treated badly for doing their jobs."
Eglington's sentence will be backdated to March 28 last year. He was also ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £190.
