ROBERT STOKES ESCAPES FROM PRISON IN ABERGAVENNY AND CARDIFF CAUSING CHAOS

In March 2017, Robert Stokes, a convicted sex offender, was reported to be residing in hotel rooms in Cardiff, raising concerns about his whereabouts and the potential threat he posed to the community. This development came after a series of alarming events that unfolded in 2004, which saw widespread panic and a significant law enforcement response in the regions of Usk, Newport, Abergavenny, and Cardiff.

Back in October 2004, the situation escalated dramatically when Robert Neil Stokes, then 35 years old and originally from Abergavenny, managed to escape from HM Prison Prescoed located in Usk. Stokes was serving a nine-year sentence for the heinous crime of raping a 15-year-old boy. His escape triggered a massive manhunt that lasted nearly 24 hours, during which authorities mobilized extensive resources to locate him.

The escape caused chaos across local schools and communities. Every school in Newport, along with 21 schools in Monmouthshire, took precautionary measures by refusing to allow children to leave school alone. The urgency was compounded by a directive sent via email from the Newport city council’s chief education officer, explicitly instructing schools: “Do not allow children to make their own way home under any circumstances.” The email emphasized that Stokes’s conviction involved “young children in school areas,” heightening fears of potential danger.

Authorities in Monmouthshire also responded swiftly, ordering the 21 schools in the Abergavenny and Usk areas to ensure that pupils did not walk home unaccompanied. The community’s anxiety was palpable, with one parent from Newport expressing frustration, stating, “I felt it created unnecessary panic. My seven-year-old was asking questions all evening, and I didn’t want to tell him this man was a sex offender.”

Law enforcement officials, including Superintendent Jon Burley, provided updates on Stokes’s condition. He was reported to be receiving treatment for an ankle injury and was expected to be returned to a secure, closed prison environment as soon as possible. Police also indicated that Stokes’s escape was being treated as a criminal offense, with potential charges for “escape from lawful custody.” Authorities warned the public not to approach him, citing the danger he posed to children and the community.

In the course of the manhunt, approximately thirty police officers, including dog handlers and a police helicopter, were deployed across the region to locate Stokes. The search was intense and widespread, reflecting the seriousness of the threat.

Barbara Morse, head of Llanmartin Primary School, recounted the efforts made to keep children safe, saying, “We were on the phone to parents all day to tell them to pick up their children.” Meanwhile, Neil Lavis, head of residence at Prescoed, clarified that Stokes was not considered high risk at that time and was within 12 months of his scheduled release date.

Public concern over the presence of sex offenders in the area had been growing. In May of that year, more than 3,000 people signed a petition protesting the government’s decision to house sex offenders at Usk prison, reflecting widespread community unease.

Paul Starling, chairman of the Usk Residents’ Action Group, voiced strong criticism of the authorities, stating, “We said at the time and are saying now that the authorities are putting the interests of convicted sex offenders before the safety of innocent children and women.” He expressed frustration over the lack of warning, noting that it was only the local school head and Monmouthshire council who advised parents to remain vigilant. “The warning was not initiated by the police or prison service,” he added, warning that such patterns could lead to tragic consequences, including child abductions.

Community leaders and politicians responded by calling for action. A public meeting was scheduled for October 13 at Usk Memorial Hall to discuss the issue. Monmouth MP David Davies stated he had already written to the under parliamentary secretary of state, Paul Goggins, demanding the removal of sex offenders from Prescoed. Similarly, Huw Edwards, the MP for Monmouth, expressed concern about the ongoing situation.

Meanwhile, a spokeswoman for the Home Office reaffirmed that their position on housing sex offenders had not changed, underscoring the ongoing debate and community fears surrounding the management and placement of such offenders in the region.