A NOTORIOUS Suffolk hellraiser is back behind bars today after admitting two charges of escaping police custody and another of dangerous driving.Karl Roberts, of Hill Close in Long Melford, was sentenced to 18 months in prison for a series of offences which took place in February and March this year.

A NOTORIOUS Suffolk hellraiser is back behind bars today after admitting two charges of escaping police custody and another of dangerous driving.

Karl Roberts, of Hill Close in Long Melford, was sentenced to 18 months in prison for a series of offences which took place in February and March this year.

The 20-year-old hit the headlines earlier this year when Babergh District Council distributed 500 leaflets detailing the terms of his anti-social behaviour order (ASBO).

The order banned him from entering the Shawlands estate in Great Cornard where his partner and four children were leaving.

Speaking after a hearing at Ipswich Crown Court, his father Nigel Roberts said the order had added to his son's four-year drink problem.

He said: “He got with a crowd when he was 16 and he got addicted to it (alcohol). He has never got help with it but he has spoken about it.

“He wasn't allowed in the area of his girlfriend's home and I think that made his problems worse. He wanted a bit of revenge then.”

Roberts had already escaped from police custody when he was seen riding a motorcycle in Pakenham on February 9. He was arrested but managed to escape and ran off.

Later, on March 24 a female police officer recognised him driving a Vauxhall Nova in Sudbury. He was pursued and on three occasions was seen to drive on the pavement.

He finally came to a stop in St Andrew's Court where he was arrested. Roberts initially gave a positive breath test and was asked to give another one but refused.

He pleaded guilty to two counts of escaping from lawful custody and one count of dangerous driving.

Judge John Devaux, sentencing Roberts at Ipswich Crown Court yesterday, gave him credit for his guilty pleas and sentenced him to 18 months in prison.

Roberts' father added: “I think he was treated fair enough for what he was up to. I thought he would get a bit more.

“I think this is the third time he has been to prison now. He copes pretty well but he just misses his children.”

After the hearing, Inspector Tristan Pepper, Sector Commander for Sudbury, said: “We are pleased with the sentence today and hope that this sends out the right message to people - that criminality will not be tolerated.”