In 2019, the Offender Database recorded that Brian McBride, then 52, a convicted rapist serving a life sentence, was jailed for a further four months after going on the run from an open prison. On Monday, 12 August 2019, the defendant appeared at Lincoln Crown Court for sentencing. It was reported that McBride, who had already spent over 20 years in jail for “vile” sexual offences, disappeared on 25 June after being granted day release from North Sea Camp Open Prison, Freiston, near Boston, Lincolnshire.
The investigation established that McBride had been allowed temporary release to carry out a work placement at the Centenary Methodist Church in Boston, Lincolnshire. Lincolnshire Police reported that the prisoner was due to be collected at 1:00 pm but was not present, prompting an immediate manhunt across the county. The prosecution reported that McBride remained at large for less than 48 hours before being discovered as a passenger in a vehicle stopped on Golf Road, Mablethorpe, Lincolnshire.
Judicial Findings and Investigative Detail
The court reported that McBride had been serving a life sentence since 1997 for “monstrous” sexual crimes. Lincoln Crown Court heard how his failure to return to the custodial environment at North Sea Camp caused significant alarm, given his “predatory” criminal history. The prosecution reported that McBride’s escape, while brief, represented a serious breach of the trust placed in him by the prison authorities during his rehabilitation efforts in Lincolnshire.
Kevin Jones, prosecuting, noted that McBride was 35 miles away from his designated location when he was apprehended in Mablethorpe. For his actions in Boston and Mablethorpe, McBride admitted a charge of remaining at large after temporary release. The judge noted that the additional four-month sentence would be added to his life term, likely impacting any future parole considerations regarding his potential release back into society in Lincolnshire or elsewhere.
Sentence and Statutory Requirements
For his crimes in England, Brian McBride was handed:
- Custodial Sentence: Four months in prison (to run alongside/consecutive to his life term).
- Life Sentence: Remains a serving life-sentence prisoner (originally sentenced in 1997).
- Sex Offenders Register: Notification requirements remain active for life.
- Judicial Oversight: Sentenced at Lincoln Crown Court following an investigation by Lincolnshire Police.
- Criminal Record: Rape (1997) and escaping lawful custody/remaining at large (2019).
- Origin: Serving at North Sea Camp, Freiston, Lincolnshire.
Monitoring and Public Protection
McBride is managed under Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA) at the highest level of oversight by Lincolnshire Police and the National Probation Service. Due to the “vile” nature of his original rape convictions and his recent attempt to evade custody in Boston, his management within the high-security estate—following his return from the open prison system—is subject to intensive scrutiny by the Public Protection Unit.
As a member of the Sex Offenders Register, McBride must comply with notification requirements regarding his identity and residence for the remainder of his life. Authorities state that his history of sexual violence and his willingness to go on the run in Lincolnshire necessitate permanent and stringent monitoring of his conduct. Any further sexual misconduct or attempt to abscond in Mablethorpe, Lincoln, or elsewhere will result in immediate legal action and a indefinite delay in any future parole eligibility.
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