[Carruthers]

A middle-aged prisoner broke out of jail to flee loud rap music being played "day and night" on his wing, a court heard.

Robert Stevens, 58, a convicted robber, was fed up of the constant din of the music played by younger fellow inmates.

He had also become irritated with being "constantly pestered" to buy drugs from younger cellmates inside HMP Leyhill minimum security prison in Gloucestershire, the court was told.

Stevens climbed over a security wall to escape the category D jail before walking several miles to the nearest town.

The fugitive, who had been serving a six-and-a-half year sentence for robbery, spent 20 days at large in various towns in the south west.

Cruel and unusual punishment?

Daily Telegraph.