WAYNE PARKES, KNOWN AS NEON COLLINS, ESCAPES FROM LEYHILL PRISON AND IS RECAPTURED IN REDDITCH

In June 2019, Wayne Anthony Parkes, also known as Neon Collins, a convicted sex offender, escaped from HMP Leyhill, an open prison in Gloucestershire. Collins, who was serving an indeterminate sentence with a minimum term of seven years for sexual offences against children, left the prison sometime before 8am on May 12. He feared being assaulted again by other inmates who had called him a ‘grass’ and thus decided to walk out.

Following his escape, Collins traveled to Redditch where he consumed alcohol and met with family members. He was later found and arrested in Redditch after a media appeal by police. Collins appeared at Worcester Crown Court via videolink from HMP Hewell, a secure prison, on the Monday after his escape to be sentenced. He pleaded guilty to one count of escape.

At the hearing, prosecutor Simon Cooper explained that a member of the public found Collins' prison ID card and contacted authorities, which led to the discovery that Collins had absconded. Authorities then learned he was drinking and had fallen asleep on grass in Redditch. Mr. Cooper stated, ‘He was at large for at least one day during the daytime hours.’

Collins was due to attend a Parole Board hearing, having already completed his minimum seven-year term, which could have led to his release. ‘No violence was used. It was an open prison. He simply walked out,’ said Mr. Cooper.

Defence lawyer Joseph Keating told the court that Collins had been complying well while at Leyhill and had been assaulted the previous year by inmates who believed he had informed on them about drugs. Collins was subsequently moved to a prison in Bristol, where he again received good reports. However, he was returned to Leyhill in January this year. Keating added, ‘His client was at this stage a good candidate for release and was preparing to apply for parole. But threats from one of the men who had assaulted him resurfaced when that individual was returned to Leyhill. Despite alerting probation, Collins felt that an additional six to seven months in prison posed too great a risk and decided to leave.’

The court heard that Collins traveled from Gloucester to Birmingham and then to Redditch, where he arrived shortly after 3pm and spent time with his family, consuming alcoholic drinks. Judge Robert Juckes QC acknowledged Collins’ cooperation and guilty plea, noting it appeared as a ‘particularly stupid’ mistake driven by fear. He commented, ‘Neon Collins, you have had the good sense to plead guilty. You have cooperated since your escape, which, from this perspective, looks like a particularly foolish thing to do. But I understand the fears preying upon you that caused you to do it.’

The judge sentenced Collins to three months in prison, though he cautioned that the severity of his escape may extend his custodial period. Additionally, Collins was ordered to pay a £115 court charge. The judge remarked that Collins' previous conduct in prison was ‘exemplary’ and that his escape was not an attempt to evade detection, but driven by fear.

This incident followed earlier reports in May 2019 that Collins, 39, had left HMP Leyhill before 8am and was located and arrested later that day. Collins, previously known as Wayne Parkes, was serving time for multiple sexual offences and child cruelty, including injecting a girl with heroin against her will to facilitate sexual acts.

Back in June 2011, Collins was sentenced to 14 years for his crimes, which took place between 2008 and 2010. The offenses involved nine counts of sexual activity with a child and one of child cruelty. The cruelty charge involved injecting the girl with heroin forcibly to subdue her. Detective Constable Samantha Pengelly highlighted the gravity of the crimes, stating, ‘Parkes has received a substantial sentence which reflects the seriousness of the crimes committed against this young girl. He was in a position of trust and subjected this child to a prolonged ordeal. Thanks to the victim's courage, justice has been served, and the lengthy sentence should reassure the community.’