On-the-run criminal Lee Hogben arrested (From Bournemouth Echo)

On-the-run criminal Lee Hogben arrested

5:18pm Thursday 24th January 2013 in News

A “DANGEROUS” criminal from Poole has been caught in his hometown after going on the run.

Lee Hogben was released from prison on licence on January 11 but failed to turn up at the address in Somerset where he had to stay as part of his conditions of being let out early from a three-year-sentence.

Police believed the 29-year-old had returned to Poole and have arrested him and three others they suspect of helping him to hide for 13 days.

The Daily Echo ran a story after officers raised the alarm and has been thanked by a force spokesman for helping in their search.

The Dorset Police spokesman said: “Lee Hogben has been arrested at an address in Poole and he is now in custody “Three other people, two women aged 19 and 21, and one boy aged 16, all from Poole, were also arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender.

“They have been released on bail until the end of April.”

Detective Inspector Neil Phillips described Hogben as dangerous when he appealed for information on his whereabouts following his disappearance.

Hogben was jailed for three years in February last year for stealing a refuse lorry and smashing into police cars during a 70-mile chase across Dorset.

The 29-year-old was sentenced to 12 months for aggravated vehicle taking, 21 months for dangerous driving and three months for driving while disqualified.

Dorchester Crown Court heard how, just days earlier, while being questioned in connection with another matter, Hogben, of Egmont Road, Poole, had threatened to ram the next police car he saw.

After being taken from Poundbury Industrial Estate on December 11, 2011, the hook loader skip recycling vehicle was driven through Sherborne and Blandford before finally stopping on the way to Poole.

On several occasions the lorry rammed police cars, attempted to drive into them, straddled the road and went the wrong way around roundabouts during the hour-long pursuit.