British Conman Receives Six-Year Sentence in France After Assaulting Police

Robert Hendy-Freegard, under a false identity in France, was sentenced to six years for assaulting police officers as he attempted to evade questioning. Despite his claims of panic, the incident raised concerns about his manipulative behavior and future threats.

British conman Robert Hendy-Freegard, 53, has been sentenced to six years in a French prison for an alarming incident in which he rammed his car into two policemen while attempting to evade questioning. This comes after a previous four-year incarceration in the UK for crimes including kidnapping and deception.

Hendy-Freegard had relocated to a rural part of central France several years ago, where he was illegally breeding beagles under an assumed name. Neighbors grew suspicious of Hendy-Freegard’s activities, particularly after two Netflix documentaries shed light on his past as a conman. Notably, he had previously posed as an MI5 agent, defrauding women and students out of approximately £1 million.

In a court session in Gueret, Hendy-Freegard represented himself and explained his actions, stating, "I had enough. I panicked," while expressing remorse for hitting the officers in the village of Vidaillat. However, prosecutor Alexandra Pethieu criticized his actions, indicating that they contributed to a scene reminiscent of a post-apocalyptic film like Mad Max, rather than typical rural life.

Witnesses reported that during the incident, one officer was knocked down, while another was propelled against the windscreen of the vehicle. Hendy-Freegard had previously been released early from a UK prison after some of his convictions were overturned on appeal.

Since moving to France in 2015, Hendy-Freegard has remained a figure of concern for locals. His partner, Sandra Clifton, allegedly seemed to be under his coercive control, prompting her children to seek help via the documentaries that highlighted his deceptive behavior. Upon arrival of authorities to assist Clifton, Hendy-Freegard fled in his vehicle, leading to the confrontation with police.

Despite his denials of manipulation, testimonies during the trial depicted him as a persistent and troubling influence. The mayor of Vidaillat, Martine Laporte, emphasized that Hendy-Freegard's manipulative tendencies were evident, suggesting that if released, he would pose a continued risk to others. The case raises significant concerns about the nature of deceit and control, illustrating the potential for manipulation that can endure even in the face of legal repercussions.