A RAPIST jumped the dock and escaped after he was convicted of a sex attack on a teenage girl.

Bradley Tout vaulted over the dock in court three at Worcester Crown Court as prison officers gave chase after he was convicted of a rape at County Hall in Worcester. Members of Tout's family shouted 'he's innocent!' as he fled.

Tout, 20, cleared the dock, which is over three feet high, and made a run for it, crashing into a wall. He then fled through the atrium of the court, through the metal detector and out into the street in front of astonished jury members, counsel, court staff and members of the public watching from the gallery above. At one point a large prison officer came up from the cells but ran the wrong way as one of the barristers shouted 'go right!'

The Worcester News understands that security staff at the main entrance had not been informed of the conviction of Tout and Odedra and therefore could not act to apprehend him.

West Mercia Police confirmed they had officers out looking for Tout. The judge said he would be sentenced in his absence tomorrow.