This is the moment police found a violent thug cowering in a hidden compartment in a loft – after he was given shelter by the property’s occupants.
Kurt Horton and Tracey Hoff allowed James Pedley to hide in their loft as police sought him over a vicious assault which saw his victim repeatedly stabbed.
Officers were called to Morvern Avenue in Sutton-in-Ashfield, Nottinghamshire, and found the man in his 40s lying on the floor. He underwent emergency surgery in hospital.
Nottinghamshire Police said a trawl of CCTV footage and other inquiries identified 41-year-old Pedley as a suspect, and two days later officers tracked him down to Horton and Hoff’s address in the town.
Hoff let police into the house but denied knowing where Pedley was.
Following searches Pedley was found hiding under loft insulation, between floor beams and behind hatches which could only have been locked by another person.
Pedley, Hoff and Horton – who had arrived back at the property a short time later – were all arrested and clothing worn by Pedley on the day of the attack was found inside.
Pedley, also of Sutton-in-Ashfield, was found guilty of committing grievous bodily harm with intent and possession of an offensive weapon in a public place and was jailed for a total of 14 years on 27 March.
At Nottingham Crown Court on Tuesday, Horton, 34, was jailed for 16 months.
Hoff, 37, and now of Huthwaite, Nottinghamshire, was given a 12-month jail sentence suspended for 18 months.
The pair had previously pleaded guilty to assisting an offender, while Horton also admitted a Bail Act offence.
Detective Constable Ryan Lambert, of Nottinghamshire Police, said: ‘By allowing Pedley to hide at this address, Hoff and Horton were committing a very serious offence.
‘Pedley had gone on the run after his brutal attack and both these two offenders knew they were sheltering a dangerous man who we were actively searching for.
‘I’m pleased that, like Pedley, they have been brought to justice and hope this sends a message to anyone prepared to assist an offender.’
