**Escaped Inmate Sparked Week-Long Manhunt After Inappropriate Relationship with Prison Nurse**
A convicted gang member, previously the centre of controversy for inappropriate relationships with prison staff, prompted a seven-day manhunt across south Wales after he escaped from hospital while still shackled.
**Harri Pullen, 27, who had earlier gained notoriety for romantic entanglements with both a prison nurse and a custody officer during his four-year jail term, was apprehended at a rural farmhouse following his dramatic flight from police. The saga presents questions not only about the effectiveness of security protocols but also the vulnerabilities faced by prison staff in complex working environments.**
Pullen was originally incarcerated for drug offences, but soon became headline news due to his alleged affairs behind bars. His relationships with healthcare worker Elyse Hibbs, 27, and prison officer Ruth Shmylo, 26, resulted in severe disciplinary action for both women. Hibbs was imprisoned for misconduct after admitting to the inappropriate relationship, while Shmylo was dismissed but ultimately acquitted of criminal wrongdoing.
The notorious inmate was released having served his term, but swiftly returned to his criminal ways. Within months, plain-clothes officers observed Pullen and an accomplice acting suspiciously while riding an e-bike, leading to his arrest in Newport city centre. He was found in possession of crack cocaine, a large quantity of cash, and multiple mobile phones.
**Following his arrest, Pullen complained of head pain and was transported to Grange University Hospital, Cwmbran, still in handcuffs. While being escorted back to a waiting van, he took advantage of a momentary lapse in security to escape, darting through the car park and ambulance bays before diving into a waiting getaway car. His family had been attempting to visit at the time, and their presence appears to have triggered the dramatic escape.**
For the next week, police launched a regionwide search, eventually tracking Pullen to a farmhouse outside Newport. Even then he proved elusive, attempting to flee in a Mercedes, only to be tasered and eventually subdued by a police dog after abandoning the vehicle in a cul-de-sac.
During his trial via videolink from Cardiff Prison, Pullen admitted 11 offences, including drug possession with intent to supply, dangerous driving, and escaping lawful custody. While his barrister, Julia Cox, described him as “immature” with health anxieties, Judge Daniel Williams was unequivocal in sentencing him to a further six years behind bars. The judge detailed the sequence of events and chastised Pullen’s reckless actions, which had resulted in significant disruption and public concern.
The fallout of Pullen’s actions has been keenly felt by the involved prison staff. Elyse Hibbs, who met Pullen during her work at HMP Parc, admitted to exchanging flirtatious messages and calls—some of which were recorded and submitted as evidence. Although Hibbs claimed she was manipulated and intimidated by Pullen, she was sentenced to six months imprisonment and, following a Nursing Midwifery Council hearing, received a 12-month professional suspension. The panel cited her conviction as a serious impairment of her fitness to practise.
Meanwhile, Ruth Shmylo experienced her own ordeal. During her trial in December 2023, recorded conversations revealed declarations of love and instances of explicit phone contact instigated by Pullen. She tearfully denied gaining any satisfaction from the inappropriate exchanges and explained she felt intimidated and distressed by the inmate’s conduct. Ultimately, the court cleared her of any criminality, but the incident underscored the risks facing staff working in high-pressure custodial environments.
**This case highlights both the persistent challenges of managing high-risk offenders within the prison system and the need for robust support mechanisms for custodial staff. Emotional manipulation, intimidation, and the blurred lines of professional relationships are perennial issues for correctional institutions seeking to keep both the public and their staff safe.**
As Pullen embarks on another lengthy prison sentence, the aftermath serves as a cautionary tale for the criminal justice system. The complexities of human relationships behind bars can have far-reaching consequences—not just for inmates and staff, but for the wider community as well.