An inmate managed to trick prison staff into believing he was still in his cell by creating a decoy using a pumpkin and a boiler suit filled with clothes. Aaron Wood escaped from North Sea Camp near Boston on September 22 and remained on the run for two days. He was apprehended in Skegness, where he claimed he was participating in a charity walk while carrying a knife.

The 54-year-old had been serving a life sentence since 1998 for the murder of a 40-year-old woman. He pleaded guilty at Lincoln Crown Court on Monday to charges of escaping custody and possessing a bladed weapon. The court learned that Wood’s absence was reported by his cellmate shortly before 8:00 AM BST on September 23.

Prosecutor Phil Howes characterized North Sea Camp as an “open establishment,” where inmates are expected to behave responsibly and not leave without permission. He explained that Wood’s ruse involved stuffing clothing into the boiler suit to give it shape and using a pumpkin as a head, which successfully deceived a prison staff member during a check at 1:15 AM BST.

Wood was found nearly 50 miles from the prison in South Somercotes around 6:00 PM on September 24. The police were alerted to his location after a family member revealed they had allowed him to stay overnight in their caravan.

The court also noted that Wood had an extensive criminal history, with 29 prior convictions spanning 110 offenses over 17 years, including two previous escapes, numerous house burglaries, and various violent offenses. His defense attorney, Michael Cranmer-Brown, mentioned that Wood suffers from significant mental health issues and felt hopeless about his future prospects for release.

As a consequence of his actions, Wood has been returned to more restrictive prison conditions and will have to wait at least 20 months before he can request an appearance before the Parole Board.