Terence Clegg jail mix-up hunt goes on

Nov 1 2008 by Dan Warburton, The Journal

THE search for a man wrongly released from prison is still continuing. It is now nine days since prison officials accidentally released a suspected thief because he had the same name as his father.

Terence Clegg Snr, 51, and his son Terence Clegg Jnr, 23, were in custody for conspiracy to steal after allegedly targeting property in cars in North Tyneside.

The pair, from Kenton, Newcastle, spent eight weeks on remand in Durham Prison, where they shared a cell. But when charges against the father were dropped, prison officers released his son.

Last night a Northumbria Police spokeswoman said: We are still making every effort to trace him on behalf of Her Majestys Prison Service.

The Ministry of Justice launched an internal investigation to determine how the mistake had happened.

The pair were charged with conspiracy to steal after allegedly breaking into cars in North Tyneside between July 12 and August 22. On August 27, the men appeared before North Tyneside magistrates, who declined jurisdiction and committed the case to Newcastle Crown Court. Both men were remanded in custody for a plea and directions hearing on November 5.

But on Thursday, October 23, Judge Esmond Faulkes granted Mr Clegg Snr bail and the news was relayed to the prison.

A Prison Service spokesman said: Due to an administrative error, a prisoner was released from HMP Durham on Thursday, October 23. This is now a matter for the police. This type of clerical error is a rare occurrence and the prison will hold an investigation to determine how it happened.

The father says he has spoken to his son since his release. At home last week, he said his son planned to lie low, but would turn up at Newcastle Crown Court on November 5 for the hearing.

Mr Clegg Snr, who lives with his wife Amber, 43, and daughters Tina, 25, and Natasha, 16, said: They opened the gate for him and let him walk out what was he supposed to do? They have been made to look like total idiots, he said. I dont know how they have managed to mess this up so badly.