Devon man jailed for escaping lawful custody

Billy Oliver was sentenced to 14 months

A Devon man has been jailed for forcefully evading police officers as they attempted to arrest him on two separate occasions, last year.

45-year-old Billy Oliver, of King Street in Tavistock, was sentenced to 14 months in prison at Plymouth Crown Court on Thursday 27 March having been convicted of two escaping lawful custody offences.

Devon and Cornwall Police were called to a report of a disturbance at an address in Tavistock on Friday 27 December 2024. Oliver used physical force to escape an officer and fled the scene. He was arrested nearby shortly afterwards.

Officers attended a further report of a disturbance on Tuesday 31 December 2024. Oliver was violent in his attempt to resist arrest and caused injuries to a female officer’s hand before escaping the premises.  Mr Oliver was later detained him in the town centre.

Sergeant Thomas Ottley, Neighbourhood Team Leader in West Devon, said “Billy Oliver was disrespectful and used physical force to overpower officers on two separate occasions.

"There have been a number of incidents recently where our officers have been injured whilst carrying out their roles and protecting our communities. 

“I welcome the court’s robust sentencing on this matter, and I hope this demonstrates that we will not tolerate physical force used against our officers.”