A criminal has been jailed after he fled from custody at Maidstone Crown Court and jumped into the river in an attempt to escape.

Stephen Fry sparked a full-scale alert as he jumped over the dock railings in court three in September last year and knocked over a woman police officer, causing her to hit her head.

The 27-year-old made off down the corridor and out of the Barker Road building before plunging into the River Medway.

Fry, from East London, had been appearing with others accused of raids on lorries in the south east and stealing from loads.

“It was a normal, quiet day in court with a very long list before this happened,” said one court employee. “He moved pretty quickly and crashed through the court’s double doors. It was a robust attempt to abscond.”

Police and security officers fished Fry out of the water using a safety ring.

Security firm GEOAmey launched an investigation into the incident.

Fry appeared in a secure dock with others this week to be sentenced for conspiracy to steal and other offences.

Judge Julian Smith refused an application for handcuffs, despite hearing he uttered veiled threats to make another break for freedom.

A dock officer said he told her: “Watch this space. I am going to do everything I can.” However, watched by four dock officers, he remained seated throughout.

He was jailed for a total of four years and four months - 34 months for the conspiracy, 12 months for supplying cocaine and six months the escape.

Judge Smith told Fry: “In your desperation and determination, you jumped into the River Medway. You had to be rescued.

“If there was anything salutary or amusing about it, it showed your determination to escape.”

Fry was one of 10 men, mainly from London and Essex, jailed for a total of more than 35 years for the conspiracy in which parked lorries were targeted in Kent.

Curtains on the trucks were slashed as goods with a total value of about £160,000 were stolen between July and October 2014 in Blue Bell Hill, Aylesford, Gravesend and Snodland.

Judge Smith said it was “planned, organised, persistent and relatively large scale offending”.

Senior investigating officer Detective Inspector Matthew Scott said: “The offenders in this case targeted lorries at random and stole whatever they came across.

“They got away with items ranging from off-road motorcycles to clothes and jam to sets of travel Cluedo.

“My officers were able to put together a complex and compelling case by using clues the offenders left us along the way.

“The thoroughness of their work is shown by the fact all but one of the offenders appearing in court pleaded guilty and I am pleased that this conviction has been secured.

“This case shows that Kent Police has the resources to pursue offenders responsible for committing complex offences of this nature.”

The other men sentenced were:

Kane Hill, 24, of Appleby Road in Canning Town. He pleaded not guilty and was sentenced to four years imprisonment.

Ashley Andrews, 30 and of Durham Road in Dagenham. He was sentenced to three years and four months imprisonment.

Ryan Campion, 30 and of Northumberland Avenue in Hornchurch. He was sentenced to a total of two years and 10 months imprisonment for conspiracy to steal and a further three years for an unrelated charge of possessing with intent to supply drugs.

Terence Donnelly, 37 years-old of Birch Close in Canning Town. He has been sentenced to one year and nine months imprisonment.

Daniel Hession, 31 and of Denny Close in East Ham. He has been sentenced to 18 months imprisonment.

Ricky Holloway, 23 and of Silvertown in Canning Town. He has been sentenced to three years and for months imprisonment.

Dean Kingston, 32 years-old, of Ozolins Way in Canning Town. He has been sentenced to three years imprisonment.

Steven Knowles, 25 and of Princes Close in Sidcup. He received a 15 month prison sentence, suspended for 18 months.

Alfie Turner, 26 years-old of Bond Street in Stratford. He has been sentenced to three years and four months for conspiracy to steal and one year, to be served consecutively for, an unrelated assault.

Bradley Wilkins, 35 and of Hayday Road in Canning Town. He has been sentenced to three years and four months for conspiracy to steal and a further one year and four months, to be served consecutively, for an unrelated burglary.