An inmate who had romantic relationships with two jail personnel managed to escape custody with the aid of a female accomplice.

Harri Pullen, a gang member, engaged in alleged affairs with a female prison officer and a nurse while serving time behind bars for four years. During a hospital visit while still in handcuffs, the 27-year-old orchestrated a bold escape, sprinting through the hospital’s parking area before being whisked away by the getaway driver.

The driver, Sian Bates, 42, drove her Mercedes B150 to the hospital, opened the passenger door for Pullen to jump in, and then swiftly drove off, leaving authorities unaware of their whereabouts for nearly a week.

Pullen, contacting his mother during the hospital visit, made a break for it after asking to use the restroom, ultimately evading capture temporarily. Bates, a family friend from Bettws, Newport, admitted to aiding a fugitive. Her lawyer, David Maunder, argued that she was vulnerable and struggling with substance abuse issues at the time.

In court, Judge Vanessa Francis condemned Bates for impeding justice by assisting a prisoner’s escape. Bates received a suspended four-month prison sentence, along with a 25-day rehabilitation activity requirement.

Pullen, previously on the run for days, was eventually apprehended at a remote farmhouse. Earlier, former prison nurse Elyse Hibbs served time for an inappropriate relationship with Pullen during his incarceration.

Moreover, Ruth Shmylo, dismissed as a prison officer following allegations of a romantic involvement with Pullen, was acquitted of any criminal wrongdoing after a trial where Pullen called her for phone intimacy from his cell.

Pullen’s subsequent arrest occurred after plainclothes officers observed suspicious behavior involving an e-bike in Newport city center. Upon interception, Pullen was found with crack cocaine, a burner phone, an iPhone, and cash in a bum bag.

During his escape attempt from the hospital, Pullen, still in handcuffs, managed to flee by jumping into a waiting vehicle. Subsequent police pursuit led to his recapture at a cul-de-sac after a brief attempt to evade authorities.

In court, Pullen’s defense attorney, Julia Cox, portrayed him as immature and hypochondriacal, claiming he believed he had a brain tumor for years. Cox emphasized that the escape was impulsive, triggered by his family’s presence at the hospital.

Ultimately, Pullen pleaded guilty to multiple charges, including drug-related offenses, dangerous driving, and escaping lawful custody. He received a six-year prison sentence in May 2025 from Judge Daniel Williams.