Man who fled Yarl's Wood immigrant detention centre jailed

A man has been given a 22-month jail term after escaping from Yarl's Wood detention centre

A 26-year-old man who escaped from an immigration removal centre has been jailed for 22 months after admitting violent disorder.

Arnold Lleshaj went on the run after escaping from Yarl's Wood detention centre near Bedford in April last year.

Lleshaj was one of 13 men convicted as a result of the investigation into the escape.

Detainees had fled after a riot at the centre, which police said led to a "nationwide manhunt".

Appearing at Luton Crown Court, Lleshaj admitted escaping lawful custody, causing criminal damage and violent disorder.

Bedfordshire Police said he was one of eight men in total who had now admitted escaping lawful custody.

Yarl's Wood, in Milton Ernest, is an immigration removal centre where people with disputed immigration status can be detained without a defined time limit.

It has been run by Serco since 2007.

In October, an inspection found the centre was "no longer safe".

A HM Inspectorate of Prisons report said 41% of detainees felt unsafe at some time, but there was "little overt violence".

The Home Office said it was "committed to ensuring detention and removals are carried out with dignity and respect".

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