A CONVICTED thief was still on the run last night after escaping from a court three days ago.

Police are still trying to track down Scott Smith, 21, from Grove Park Lane, Harrogate, North Yorkshire, who was given an eight-month jail term on Friday.

After being sentenced, he told a security guard at Harrogate Magistrates' Court that he wanted to speak to his mother in the public gallery.

He then ran down a staircase, evaded two guards, before he kicked a hole through a glass door and escaped.

Police said yesterday that Smith still had not been apprehended, but that a number of lines of inquiry were being pursued.

The 21-year-old had pleaded guilty to three counts of theft. In mitigation, his solicitor said Smith was afraid of being jailed.

He was last seen on Friday running along Victoria Avenue in the direction of the town centre.

Anyone with information is asked to call police on (01423) 505541.