A CONVICTED killer escaped from Swansea Crown Court by using a shoelace to lift a door latch.

James Stevenson was able to get away because custody officers had failed to dead-lock the door, a judge was told.

The 30-year-old Swansea man was on the run for more than a fortnight after escaping from the cell complex in The Guildhall last October.

Stevenson, who has a manslaughter conviction, had just received a five-year prison sentence for a firearm offence.

The astonishing way he managed to escape was revealed when he made a video-link appearance before the Recorder of Swansea, Judge John Diehl QC.

During yesterday's (Monday January 4) short hearing, he pleaded guilty to escaping from custody on October 2.

Rings

He also admitted stealing 28 gold rings and assaulting a shopkeeper at a jeweller's in Morriston on October 7.

Janet Gedrych, prosecuting, described how Stevenson targeted Gold Gallery in Woodfield Street when a major police operation was underway to find him.

The barrister said CCTV footage showed the defendant helping himself to a tray of rings when store owner Adnan Latif's back was turned.

There was then a struggle in which Stevenson pushed Mr Latif after being grabbed by him.

At that point, Stevenson dropped the tray and ran out of the shop, but there was a further struggle as Mr Latif tried to pull him back.

Swansea Crown Court heard that when Stevenson was eventually re-arrested he told police how he had escaped from custody on October 2. Miss Gedrych said Stevenson managed to open a door at the cell complex at The Guildhall because Reliance staff had not dead-locked it.

He was able to use a shoelace to lift a latch that was operated externally by a handle.

Assault

The barrister said a report on the incident had been prepared and would be made available to the judge in the next few days.

Stevenson, of Caernarvon Way, Bonymaen, is expected to be sentenced for the offences of escape and assault later this week.

The escape happened shortly after he was given a five-year jail sentence for unlawfully having a shotgun.

But it was not the first time he had fled from custody.

In 2005 he broke out of a Dorset prison where he was serving time for the 2002 manslaughter of Gorseinon man Paul Mainwaring.

He had killed the 46-year-old epileptic by putting newspaper over his mouth and taping over it.

Mr Mainwaring's body was later found in the River Tawe in Swansea.