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Convicted murderer who escaped from prison has sentence cut on appeal
Summary
Frederick Lee, aged 53, was convicted of murder in 1994 and sentenced to life imprisonment by Leeds Crown Court. He escaped from Shelton Abbey open prison in March 2016, living with his daughter in the UK before being apprehended under a European Arrest Warrant. Lee pleaded guilty to escaping lawful custody and had previously received a one‑month sentence for a 1987 escape. On appeal, the Court of Appeal reduced his escape sentence to 10 months, citing English case law that distinguishes between personal‑pressure and professional escapees. The judge noted Lee's escape involved planning but no violence or criminal activity while at large, and that he had been at large for three‑and‑a‑half months. Lee had already served one year and four months in Wheatfield Prison, which the judge considered as having been served. The appeal decision therefore set the final imposed term at 10 months, with no suspended portion or additional custody specified.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Convicted murderer who escaped from prison has sentence cut on appeal. Charges or matters: escaping lawful custody contrary to common law on at Shelton Abbey, Co Wicklow on March 4, 2016; murder committed during the course of a burglary in England. Procedural stage: appeal. Findings: Convicted
When:
- March 4, 2016 Incident
- February 1994 Incident
- December 15, 2016 Incident
- September 14, 2015 Hearing Or Sentence
- September 2016 Hearing Or Sentence
- 2017-11-27 Publication
Why: Mr Justice Hedigan said Lee's sister had been unwell in hospital and this was given as the reason for his escape. CNI source report
Case subjects
Appellant
Charges: escaping lawful custody contrary to common law on at Shelton Abbey, Co Wicklow on March 4, 2016; murder committed during the course of a burglary in England (Proven)
Plea: Guilty
Finding: Convicted
Outcome: Convicted; He was sentenced to life imprisonment by Leeds Crown Court and was transferred to this jurisdiction in 1998. He said Lee's escape should have attracted a sentence measured in months rather than years.
Places mentioned
Topics
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