A LYE teenager who was in handcuffs when he made break for freedom after being arrested for shoplifting has been sent into detention for 12 weeks.

Ashley Rollinson was with an accomplice when he stole £1,200 worth of baby wear from a display in the Mothercare store at Merry Hill shopping centre, Wolverhampton Crown Court heard.

The 19-year-old, who followed up the crime by running away from a taxi driver after clocking up a £30 fare, was quickly identified in both incidents from CCTV footage.

He was arrested and put in handcuffs but on arrival at Brierley Hill Police Station he ran off and was chased down a number of streets in the area.

But Rollinson then slipped over on a patch of grass and was quickly detained by police - David Lees, prosecuting, said.

He told the court the teenager had 15 previous convictions on his criminal record for offences including assault on police, burglary, theft and drugs.

Rollinson, of Moorevale Road, admitted escaping from police custody, theft and making off without payment.

Judge Michael Challinor sent him into custody but said he would be released in the near future because he had already spent six weeks behind bars while on remand.

The Judge warned Rollinson if he committed further offences after his release he would go straight back into custody and he ordered him to "keep out of trouble".

Robert Perry, defending, told the court Rollinson was in drink when he ran away from the taxi driver.

He said when the police car pulled up in the yard at the police station he made the decision to “make off” but was subsequently arrested when he fell over.