Two Bradford men, who helped a teenager who had escaped from custody while awaiting sentence for a violent armed attack on an elderly couple in their home, have been jailed.

James Baker, 27, of Ferriby Close, Fagley, was sentenced to 12 weeks imprisonment, and 62-year-old Brian Pickles, of Westfield Lane, Wrose, Shipley, was jailed for eight weeks, at Bradford Crown Court yesterday.

Baker had pleaded guilty to perverting the course of justice, by providing assistance to Jack Junior McLoughlin who intended to escape from lawful custody, and Pickles admitted assisting an offender by impeding his apprehension or prosecution.

They helped 18-year-old McLoughlin, who absconded from a police car in Eccleshill in April, 2012. Later the same month McLoughlin, of Fagley, was sent to a young offender institution for six years after admitting aggravated burglary and aggravated vehicle taking. He was given a further eight months for escaping custody.

McLoughlin and a 17-year-old youth had got into the home of an elderly couple in Greengates, Bradford, in March that year. McLoughlin, who was 17 at the time, was armed with a 12-inch-long dagger and dressed in black with a scarf covering his face. His accomplice was carrying a 6in blade and had his face covered. McLoughlin punched Mr Cooke, 77, who suffered from arthritis, in the face, breaking his jaw and cutting his head and knocking him to the floor. He searched the pensioner’s pockets and stole his phone. His accomplice confronted Mrs Cooke, 76, who was partially blind, as she got out of bed and forced her to empty her purse. The pair fled at speed in a car.

McLoughlin escaped from custody while awaiting sentence.

Baker was said to have assisted by arranging for McLoughlin to have access to a mobile phone, while Pickles was said to have allowed him to stay at his house.

McLoughlin was arrested in Bradford the following day. After yesterday’s court hearing, Detective Constable Jim Singleton, of Bradford CID, said: “Assisting an escaped prisoner is a criminal offence and these people will serve time in prison for doing so. We hope that these sentences will send out a strong message.”