EXCLUSIVE: Serial crook who fled prison had just 13 days left to serve and was caught the day he would have been released

A MAN who had just 13 days left in an open prison got seven months more bird after he took it on his toes.

Justin Brook, 39, (above right) was coming to the end of a 34-month prison sentence after he was convicted on June 18 2024 for a number of offences, including possession of a knife, burglary, theft, possession of an offensive weapon and making threats with a knife.

Brook, of no fixed abode, was finishing his time in HMP Sudbury Category D men's open prison in Derbyshire with an earliest release date of August 5 this year.

But, sitting at Birmingham Crown Court, Judge Paul Farrer KC said he decided to do a bunk before his full time was up.

The bewildered judge said: "On July 23 (2025) just before midday, you left the garden area and were not arrested for 13 days on August 5."

It meant he was hauled back to prison on the same day he likely would have been released if he had toughed it out.

Brook was not the only crook to flee the open prison the same day.

Derbyshire Police launched an appeal on July 24 for Brook and Ryan Mattox, 30, (above left) saying they both escaped the prison between 12.15pm and 4.20pm the day before.

The force warned the public "not to approach them" but to contact officers instead.

Mattox, who has links to Wolverhampton, Handsworth, Perry Barr, Bilston, Edgbaston and Birmingham, had been sentenced to 46 weeks behind bars for burglary, theft and assault of an emergency worker.

He was caught within two days according to Derbyshire Police.

Judge Farrer said he had no choice but to give serial offender Brook more time in jail as his actions had undermined public confidence in the prison service and it had caused locals anxiety while he was at large.

The court heard that he has convictions for 107 offences over 43 appearances.

Judge Farrer jailed him for another seven months, saying: "In my judgement, the need for a deterrent is such that only an immediate custodial sentence is appropriate in the circumstances of this case. I sentence you to seven months. You will serve up to 40 percent (about 12 weeks) of that and your time on remand will be taken into account."

It means Brook will be eligible for release again in about seven weeks.

Let's see if he goes the distance.