A VIOLENT robber absconded from an open prison and took refuge at the home of an officer he was romancing, a court heard.

Andrea Clarke, aged 36, let lover Samuel Taylor stay at her house for 10 days after he fled from a prison.

Police captured 35-year-old Taylor, of Manchester Road, Bolton, when he visited a relative in Westwood Close, Farnworth.

He was sentenced to a further three months in jail, but has since been released.

Clarke, in contrast, was sentenced to two years in prison at Derby Crown Court last Friday after Judge Amjad Nawaz said she had breached her position of trust.

The court heard Taylor has 39 convictions for 193 offences.

In April 2009, he burgled a house in Lord Street, Kearsley. Five months later, he targeted a house in Asher Street, Morris Green.

He knocked on the door, asked the occupant for a glass of water and threatened him with a knife before escaping with cash.

Greater Manchester Police said that, in another offence, Taylor offered to return a missing caravan if the owner paid him £600.

For those three offences, of burglary, robbery and conspiracy to defraud, Taylor was jailed at Bolton Crown Court in February 2005 for seven years.

He served time at Dovegate Prison in Staffordshire, where Clarke was working.

In May 2009, Taylor was moved to Sudbury Open Prison in Derbyshire. On June 13, he fled.

Police launched a manhunt for the convict and kept watch on properties in Bolton associated with him.

They arrested Taylor on June 26 last year in Westwood Close.

Last week, Derby Crown Court heard Taylor told police about his relationship with Clarke and said he stayed at her home for 10 days after he absconded.

Taylor showed police a letter Clarke had sent to him after he was arrested.

It read: “Hey babe. Well, what can I say apart from I hoped to see you before you got rumbled?” It ended: “Love always. I hope you realise no matter, however long, I will be there.”

Clarke, of Burton, Derbyshire, was arrested and police found love letters at her home from other inmates.

Prosecuting, Jonathan Cox said they contained “overt sexual references” and talked about meeting the defendant.

Clarke, who had no previous convictions, admitted harbouring an escaped prisoner.

Defending, Keith Raynor said Clarke was remorseful and that loneliness had driven her to allow herself to come under the spell of a hardened and violent criminal.

During sentencing, Judge Amjad Nawaz said: “You knew full well your duties and responsibilities.

“One of those was not to form any association with any inmate, which you went on to do. Not just one — there was more than one prisoner you formed a relationship with.”