Robert Hendy-Freegard, previously imprisoned in the UK, received a six-year sentence after ramming his car into officers who were questioning him in a rural village.
**British Conman Sentenced to Six Years in France for Assaulting Policemen**
**British Conman Sentenced to Six Years in France for Assaulting Policemen**
A notorious British conman has been sentenced in France for reckless driving that injured two policemen during his escape.
A notorious conman, Robert Hendy-Freegard, has been sentenced to six years in a French prison following a severe incident involving two policemen in the village of Vidaillat. The 53-year-old, who previously served four years for multiple arms of deception in the UK, attempted to evade questioning by ramming his car into the officers on duty.
Hendy-Freegard, who relocated to France several years ago to breed dogs, was on the radar of local residents who had grown suspicious of his behavior. His criminal history, which includes posing as an MI5 agent, was brought to light in recent Netflix documentaries, amplifying concerns regarding his influence over others, particularly his partner Sandra Clifton.
During the trial, Hendy-Freegard represented himself and expressed that his actions stemmed from panic rather than aggression, stating, “I had enough. I panicked.” He contradicted the portrayal of his conduct, claiming emotional distress at the moment he hit the officers. However, prosecutor Alexandra Pethieu dismissed his defense, comparing the scene to a chaotic moment from a Mad Max film.
The incident occurred as police were investigating reports that Hendy-Freegard’s partner was potentially under coercion. Upon arriving to ask questions, he drove off with one officer knocked down and another thrown against the car’s windscreen. After escaping to Belgium, he was later extradited back to France where he spent over two years in custody awaiting trial.
Despite his claims in court, local mayor Martine Laporte expressed her belief that Hendy-Freegard remains manipulative, emphasizing the community's need for his continued incarceration to prevent future offenses. As concerns over his manipulative tendencies linger, it remains uncertain how Hendy-Freegard's presence will impact local residents long after his prison sentence.
