‘Giant’ Crook Freed For Being Too Big For Prison Beds Is Back Behind Bars After Hoax Calls

Prosper

Britain’s tallest crook who was once freed from jail because he’s too big for its beds is back behind bars - after making a series of hoax calls.

Repeat offender Jude Medcalf sparked outrage when he previously escaped jail after a judge decided his 7ft 2in frame meant it was unfair for him to be kept locked in a cell.

Part of the justification given was that he could not fit in prison beds or in the uniform provided.

But the courts finally lost patience with him when he continued committing crimes and he was sentenced to 20 months in prison in November last year for a series of bizarre offences.

And just days after being released he has now been hauled back to jail for a further eight months for breaching the terms of his licence.

The crook from Newton Abbot, Devon, was arrested after police found he was persistently using public communication networks to cause annoyance and inconvenience.

He had served half his sentence after admitting three counts of impersonating a police officer; three counts of sending malicious communications - including one that cost the RNLI £4,000 - and three of theft at Exeter Crown Court.

He also admitted stealing a blue light from an emergency vehicle and an amber one from a recovery vehicle.

The court also heard Medcalf had previous convictions for 24 similar offences of false alarms and dishonesty.

Medcalf, who suffers from a little-known growth disorder called Klinefelter syndrome, now faces at least another eight months of misery behind bars.

His chromosomal disorder, which also leaves him with adolescent emotions, was diagnosed in 2013, and was previously used as a justification for not inflicting a prison sentence on him.

A police spokesman said: “This is another example of how police, the crown prosecution and probation services work in partnership to bring prolific offenders to justice."

At a previous hearing in March last year, Medcalf was freed from jail by Recorder Mr Adam Vaitilingam QC who was told he had already spent 75 days in custody.

He had admitted terrifying an innocent woman by firing a BB gun at her through a window, as well as stealing Christmas presents and tea money from an NHS office.

But the court heard he had faced problems throughout his time in custody because there were no beds or uniforms to fit him and he was given a six-month curfew and 12-month community order.

(Pictures credited to SWNS)