A YORK man who walked out of an open prison and went on the run with his ten-year-old son was today starting a new nine-month prison sentence.

Karl Gaskin - a former member of York's travelling community - snatched his son Karl-Tyler from the home of the boy's mother after absconding from North Sea Camp jail, Lincolnshire, on Christmas Day. The runaway prisoner was serving five years for two violent offences, including a vicious baseball attack on a man outside a York nightclub. Gaskin was at large for three months, during which time the boy's distraught mother, Soraya Gaskin, appealed for his return.

Cumbria Police eventually arrested Gaskin, 31, without a struggle on March 26 - and his son was later found safe in North Lincolnshire.

At Lincoln Crown Court yesterday he admitted escape as a result of his walk-out on December 25. He was not charged with abducting his son.

Judge John Machin, citing "exceptional circumstances", ordered Gaskin to serve his nine-month sentence concurrently with his existing five-year term.

Gordon Aspden, mitigating, said Gaskin had been upset at losing contact with his son and his eight-year-old daughter.

Updated: 10:50 Tuesday, April 06, 2004