‘Loverboy’ criminal who romanced two prison workers caught after week on the run

A gang member-turned-Romeo who had a fling with a prison worker is now back behind bars.

Harri Pullen, 27, had alleged inappropriate relationships with a nurse and a prison officer during a four-year sentence in Bridgend, Wales.

Pullen was freed after serving his time, only to be arrested in Newport with crack cocaine in March.

Video showed Pullen, who had only been free for a few months, resisting officers who caught him dealing drugs on an e-bike.

He told police he was suffering from head pain so he was taken to Grange University Hospital, Cwmbran, for treatment.

Yet Pullen escaped into a ‘getaway car’ when he asked to use the toilet.

Harri Pullen, 27, had alleged romances with a prison officer and jail nurse (Picture: Wales News Service)

He was found a week later hiding in a farmhouse and was sentenced yesterday to six years in prison.

Former prison nurse Elyse Hobbs, 27, from Newbridge, Caerphilly county, was previously jailed over her relationship with Pullen.

Ruth Shmylo, 26, was accused of being with Pullen after he secretly called for phone sex from his cell.

Shmylo was sacked but cleared of criminality during a 2023 trial, where she described the phone call as ‘sexual harassment’.

Newport Crown Court heard last month that Pullen had been freed for only a few months when he was arrested.

Prosecutor Alex Granville said Pullen was found with five wraps of crack cocaine, a burner phone, an iPhone and £90 inside a bum bag.

Former prison nurse Elyse Hobbs was jailed for her inappropriate relationship with Pullen (Picture: Wales News Service) Ruth Shmylo was sacked from her job as a prison officer (Picture: Wales News Service)

Pullen was still wearing handcuffs when he ran through the hospital car park and ambulance bay to escape, the court heard.

Granville said officers ran after the defendant, adding: ‘After about 20 seconds of running, the officers were about 20 meters behind the defendant, who was still in handcuffs in a front position.

‘At this point, a vehicle appeared to reverse up the ramp from the exit of the hospital, the passenger door was opened and the defendant got in and it left at high speed.’

Pullen was found at a farm on the outskirts of the city and attempted to dodge capture by driving a Mercedes to a cul-de-sac.

He then tried to flee for a third time on foot but complied when police pointed a Taser at him.

Julia Cox, defending, said Pullen was ‘immature’ and suffered from ‘hypochondria’, an anxiety disorder where people worry about their health.

Pullen tried several times to escape from the police (Picture: Wales News Service)

He believed that he had a brain tumour for four years.

She added: ‘This was not anything that was pre-planned. It was more opportunistic than that.

‘It was upon his family’s attendance at the hospital that he, in his words, “‘lost his head”.’

Pullen pleaded guilty to 11 charges, including possession with intent to supply crack cocaine, dangerous driving, and escaping lawful custody.

At the end of the hearing, Pullen said: ‘Thank you and I apologise.’

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