Curtis Kirk-Patrick who allegedly escaped custody in 1980 and was only recaptured last week was sentenced yesterday when he appeared in court.

Kirk-Patrick who had been a patient at the Kingston Public Hospital (KPH) under police guard when he escaped custody said that he had done so in order to 'visit friends'. The accused was sentenced to 18 months in prison in the Corporate Area Resident Magistrate's Court for escaping custody.

The accused had previously been sentenced to two 15-year prison sentences in 1974. But, the two sentences were to run concurrently. It is alleged that while he was a patient at the KPH on May 5, 1980, he fled from the police who were guarding him at the time. He reportedly went to Linstead where he was employed at a laboratory. He was picked up last Wednesday.

When Kirk-Patrick's matter was mentioned before Resident Magistrate Judith Pusey, he wasted no time and pleaded guilty. Kirk-Patrick told the court that he was a part of a prison crew assigned to work outside the prisons but was beaten while at the Tower Street Adult Correctional Centre. He said he was told by a correctional officer that he would be killed.

Kirk-Patrick added that shortly after he left the KPH to visit some friends, but when he returned the correctional officers were gone. He said after that he did not bother to hand himself in.

In handing down her sentence R.M. Pusey said Kirk-Patrick had no excuse for his actions and ordered that he serve the remaining four years which he had left in his sentence and the 18 months. The sentences are to run consecutively.