Serial sex offender David Burrows was let off without punishment yesterday for escaping from prison for almost a month, resisting arrest and dangerous driving.

Burrows, 22, was serving a six-year sentence for having unlawful sex with a 13-year-old girl when he escaped from two prison officers in May after receiving treatment for an eye complaint at the Arches medical centre in Paget.

Burrows was on the run for 25 days before being captured by Police at Devonshire Marsh following a high speed chase on a stolen bike which began at Paget lights, during which other drivers were forced to swerve to avoid an accident.

Burrows was finally caught by P.c. Robert Butterfield in Devonshire Marsh, but not before struggling and punching the officer.

Magistrate William Francis yesterday sentenced Burrows to six months in prison for escaping custody, and three months for violently resisting arrest, failing to stop for Police, and dangerous driving.

But Mr. Francis ordered the sentences to be concurrent to his six year jail sentence, meaning he will not spend any more time in prison for the offences.

Mr. Francis told Burrows: "Considering the long sentence, I'll let it all run (concurrently). Although we have not imposed a punishment, I am sure the Prison Service has dealt with this."

Burrows is a serial sex offender. He was jailed for two-and-a-half years last year for having sex with a girl under 14.

But when he was out on bail for that offence, he again had unlawful sex, fathering twins by a 15-year-old girl.

Crown counsel Cindy Clarke said Prison officers Joseph Allen and Terrance Smith took Burrows to the Arches for medical treatment on June 9, one month after he was jailed for six years for having unlawful sex with the 13-year-old girl.

His handcuffs were taken off him as he was treated by a nurse and when he returned to a reception area, he was rubbing his eyes.

He then took his hands from his eyes and started to run away. The officers tried to catch Burrows, crashing into a glass door, but they could not hold him because, they said, he had an "oil-type" substance on his arms.

Burrows was spotted riding a stolen bike on Middle Road, Paget, on July 4 and followed by Police until he reached Paget lights.

He then refused to stop and sped away with Police pursuing him.

At the South Road roundabout he went round the wrong way, causing alarm to motorists who had to take avoiding action.

He sped along South Road, overtaking vehicles, again causing other motorists to take avoiding action, before he drove up Brighton Hill and Parson's Lane, then crashed the bike into bushes at Orange Valley Road and ran off.

A large team of Police officers searched him out at at 4.40 p.m., P.c. Butterfield spotted Burrows and told him he was under arrest, but he ran off and was captured by the officer in Devonshire Marsh, but not before he threw punches at him.

Yesterday Burrows told Mr. Francis: "To be quite honest with you, there is no justification for my actions.

"I accept that I did extremely wrong. I do admit I was going through a stressful period, but it is no justification, but I felt I justified them to myself because I had new-born children and wanted to be with them.

"I want to apologise to society, and the Prison Service and the courts for the deep uproar I caused.

"I know you are probably tired of seeing me, but it is time for change and I am ready for change."

Burrows thanked Mr. Francis when he was given the concurrent sentences.

Burrows admitted all the offences and the Crown accepted a not guilty plea to assaulting a Police officer.