A PROLIFIC offender dubbed Spiderboy was jailed for five years yesterday by a judge who said he had an "appalling" criminal record.

Thomas Laws, 22, who admitted robbing a taxi driver at knifepoint, earned his nickname nine years ago for his ability to escape from police by climbing over rooftops.

Newcastle Crown Court heard how the father-of-one gained notoriety two years ago when he escaped during a hearing in North Tyneside Magistrates' Court from a dock which had always been thought to be escape-proof, and went on the run.

He clambered up an 8ft security glass then squeezed through a 6in gap between wooden bars and fled the court.

Laws, of Clifton Gardens, North Shields, North Tyneside was handcuffed for yesterday's hearing.

Last summer, he was controversially recruited to help make a £15,500 documentary about crime and poverty, which aimed to encourage young people to avoid the mistakes he had made.

Robert Woodcock, prosecuting, told the court Laws and an accomplice, now on the run, lured taxi driver Martin Uren to an estate in Percy Main, North Tyneside, and robbed him of his takings in January in an early morning set-up.

The court was told Laws needed money to buy his baby son a birthday present.

Tony Hawks, defending, said his client was "a highly-intelligent young man", frustrated that he had let people down who had tried to help him go straight.

Mr Woodcock had earlier told the court Laws had been convicted for many offences of dishonesty, as well as motoring offences, affray and escaping from custody.

Sentencing, Judge Maurice Carr told Laws: "You have an appalling record. It was inevitable that at some point you would run up against a lengthy prison sentence. That time has now come."