He was initially detained on a platform at St Pancras International attempting to board a service to Paris, a court heard
Sonnie Stow has been jailed(Image: Humberside Police)
A serial criminal with a history of violence angrily confronted a woman in her bedroom – and held a knife to her throat – after suddenly grabbing her while wielding a knife in each hand. He was later arrested in London but he managed to escape from a police van in an audacious but doomed bid for freedom and ran off onto the A1, Hull Crown Court heard.
Sonnie Stow, 27, of 21st Avenue, north Hull, but recently in custody on remand, admitted threatening a person with an offensive weapon in a private place and causing criminal damage. He also admitted affray and escaping from lawful custody.
Billy Torbett, prosecuting, said that a woman was lying in bed at about 7am on May 24 when she suddenly heard the bedroom door open and saw Stow standing in the doorway. He started shouting abuse at her and a man who was also in the room.
Stow said that he had a knife and he threatened to “stab and kill” the man. He asked to speak to the woman outside and she went downstairs to do so.
Stow confronted her with a large kitchen knife in each hand. He grabbed the woman and held the knife to her throat while she tried to get the other knife out of his hand so that he could not hurt her.
She went back upstairs and Stow followed. “The argument continued,” said Mr Torbett. Stow kept punching the woman’s bedroom door, causing damage estimated at £80.
Later that day, Stow was arrested by British Transport Police at St Pancras International railway station after a National Border Targeting Centre alert identified him as being wanted. He was found on a platform attempting to board a 3.31pm Eurostar service to Paris and he was detained.
On May 25, arrangements were made for Stow’s transfer into the custody of Humberside Police via a pre-arranged meeting at Peterborough Services. “During transit, the defendant was calm, compliant and engaging and, following a risk assessment, he was therefore not handcuffed and officers remained in constant observations,” said Mr Torbett.
At about 1.19pm, while he was detained in the rear cage of the police van at the services, Stow suddenly became violent without warning. “The cage door had been opened briefly to provide ventilation and water due to the heat,” said Mr Torbett.
“The defendant lunged forward, reaching outside of the cage, seizing his mobile phone from a property bag.” He used significant force to overpower a female police officer, who tried to restrain him.
She was knocked to the floor and suffered significant injuries, including swelling and bruising. “This activated the vehicle sliding door, which was broken and came off the police van,” said Mr Torbett.
“He was able to escape lawful custody, fleeing on foot onto the A1.” Numerous inquiries were made and a black Land Rover Discovery vehicle that was linked to his brother was tracked travelling towards the area.
“Police believed he was assisting the defendant and the vehicle was stopped,” said Mr Torbett. Stow remained at large for several hours. During this time, he telephoned the woman and video-called her on WhatsApp, telling her that he had escaped and asking her to pick him up.
“He was eventually located in the Peterborough area, hiding under a large HGV vehicle and he was detained,” said Mr Torbett. “He was taken into custody after receiving medical attention.”
Stow had convictions for 65 previous offences, including four for assaulted-related offences as well as robbery in 2016, burglaries in 2017, affray and possessing a blade in 2022. His most recent conviction was in 2023 for attempted robbery, when he was jailed for four-and-a-half years.
Julia Baggs, mitigating, said that Stow behaved in a completely disproportionate way towards the woman and he realised that it was frightening for her. The escape from custody was foolish.
Stow had long-standing problems and an update from the probation service indicated that he had been doing well on licence for nine months. He had been recalled to custody and he was an enhanced prisoner and a helper on the wing. He was supported by his family.
Stow was jailed for two years and four months.
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