Clifford Hobbs Tracked down on Spain's "Costa del Crime" sentenced to life

Clifford Hobbs, 47, escaped from a prison van on his way to a court appearance and cost the taxpayer millions while detectives spent the next four years tracking him down to Spain. Hobbs, from Bermondsey, had only stood to serve two or three years in prison for the original crime after getting caught red-handed trying to steal £1million from a cash-intransit van. But the villain, dubbed "arrogant" by the judge, would not do the time and plotted a "sophisticated" escape in which a security guard was shot on June 10, 2003.
The court heard how Hobbs and fellow escapee Noel Cunningham, 43, banged on the door of the van while it was travelling from Brixton prison to Inner London Crown Court. The lags were signalling to a team of hijackers who tracked the van to the court then sprang a violent attack on driver Neil Chetty.
Hobbs was convicted of having a firearm with intent to escape from lawful custody.
The jury failed to reach a verdict on a second charge of wounding with intent and were discharged.
Hobbs had already admitted conspiracy to steal and escape from lawful custody. Cunningham remains on the run.

Clifford Hobbs country's "premier league" gangsters

Clifford Hobbs, 47, had been on the run for almost five years after escaping from a Securicor prison van in June 2003 by armed men who had posed as postmen who ambushed it as it waited for the court gates to open.
He had been due to attend court after the theft of 1.5 million pounds from another Securicor van earlier that year.
Hobbs, described by news media as one of the country's "premier league" gangsters, had fled to Spain's Costa del Sol.
The area, along the country's southern coast, has long attracted Britons seeking sun and sand alongside British-style pubs and fish and chip shops -- including those fleeing justice.
Britain's Serious Organised Crime Agency and Spanish authorities have recently tried to crack down on British criminals living there, publishing details of the most wanted, including their prominent scars and tattoos.
Hobbs, described by London police headquarters as one of the country's most wanted, now faces up to 18 years in jail for possessing a firearm, his escape and conspiracy to steal.
"For years Hobbs has tried to run from us but today's outcome demonstrates that you can't run forever," Scotland Yard's Flying Squad head, Detective Superintendent Bob Cummings, said. He also thanked his Spanish counterparts.
The van driver was shot in the knee during the breakout and the prisoner escort pistol-whipped, police said.
Two other men also escaped -- Hobbs's alleged accomplice Noel Cunningham and a third unconnected prisoner who later gave himself up.
"As the court has heard, Hobbs is a violent and dangerous offender who was intrinsically part of the plot for his escape," Cummings said. "Extreme violence was dispensed to the prison driver and escort and I'm pleased that the court has recognised the seriousness of his crimes."
The original Securicor van robbery was observed by undercover Flying Squad officers. After a high-speed chase, Hobbs gave himself up to armed police.
"It's been a bad day," Hobbs said after police read him his rights. Cunningham remains on the run, while the two men who ambushed the prison van were never identified or traced.