A convicted killer who once gave a guard the slip as he took a pee during a day-release trip to an aquarium is back behind bars after “escaping” for a second time.

Lifer Carl Currey made headlines in 2004 when he went on the run after his accompanying prison officer nipped off to the toilet while visiting the popular tourist spot in Plymouth.

The then 37-year-old, who had reportedly been allowed out of category C HMP Channings Wood in Newton Abbot, Devon, as a “treat”, fled to Spain where he remained for several years and committed further offences, including murder, before being apprehended.

But Canterbury Crown Court heard on Friday that Currey was an inmate at Standford Hill open prison on Sheppey when he went AWOL again.

On this occasion he had been trusted to return after being granted a four-day temporary release in January last year.

Currey, however, "could not face going back", it was said, and went on the run.

It was another 10 months before he was eventually discovered by chance at a property in Bexhill-on-Sea in Sussex and arrested.

Now 57, he later pleaded guilty to remaining unlawfully at large and was sentenced to 12 months' imprisonment.

But Judge Simon James said it would have little bearing on his eventual release as that would be left to the Parole Board.

The court heard Currey was jailed for life with a minimum term of two years and four months in 2000 for an offence of inflicting grievous bodily harm with intent.

He was then being prepared for release when he absconded from the aquarium four years later.

It was not said in court what sentence he later received for murder in Spain and no details of that offence were revealed. Nor was it said when he returned to the UK, when he was officially released by the authorities or even when he had been recalled to prison.

But by February 2020 the twice-married, dad of two had been transferred to Standford Hill, which has no gates or fences, in preparation again for his staged release back into society.

Outlining the details of his second break for freedom, prosecutor James Harrison said: "On January 7, 2022, he was released on temporary licence at 8.30am with a condition to return at 3.30pm four days later on January 11.

"He didn't return. Efforts were made to try and contact him by telephone but he didn't respond and didn't return to the prison at all.

"Kent Police were notified he was at large and information was circulated. By happenstance, he was arrested on November 10 by Sussex Police investigating another matter.

"He was found at an address in Sea Road, Bexhill, at 5.40am. He was asleep on the sofa, with his brother Daniel in a bedroom."

The court heard documents relating to a “David Taylor”, including his date of birth, bank card and a bus pass with the image scratched off were also found.

"The Crown has no certainty the defendant was using that identification but it seems an inference can be drawn," added Mr Harrison.

Currey, who also has a previous conviction for armed robbery for which he was jailed for eight-and-a-half years, gave a no-comment interview.

Kieran Galvin, defending, described the killer as "an articulate man with a great deal of insight", and even suggested he was "the kind of client he wished the judge could meet in person".

He said Currey had been considered a model prisoner in the open prison but absconded shortly after a scheduled parole hearing had been cancelled when a psychologist was unable to produce a report.

"Once he was out and about he said he simply couldn't face going back to prison," added Mr Galvin.

The court was also told Currey had suffered a "troubled" life with both his wives dying from natural causes - one from cancer and the other from heart problems - but was "close" to his adult sons.

"He is 58 next month and he wants to somehow or other rebuild the rest of his life the best he can," said Mr Galvin.

Passing sentence, Judge James said it was "safe and almost inevitable" to conclude given his background that Currey poses a significant risk of serious harm to the public.

Telling the defendant, now being held in category B, Swaleside Prison on Sheppey, that he had "abused the trust" placed in him, the judge added: "Ultimately, your release, I suspect, will depend not on any sentence I pass but by the Parole Board considering when you no longer pose a risk of serious harm."