Warning to public after offenders abscond from same facility

01/01/2023

Police have issued an urgent warning to the public after two offenders absconded from a healthcare facility in the East Midlands on New Year’s Eve. One is arsonist Johnny Brady convicted of a serious assault in Derby, say police. The other is a convicted sex offender.

Officers from Northamptonshire Police say that 43-year-old Nicholas Courtney left the hospital grounds St Andrew’s Healthcare facility in Billing Road, Northampton, around 6pm on Saturday, December 31, while on an escorted walk with members of staff. The police are not linking his disappearance with an earlier escape by another patient. Courtney, a convicted sex offender, is serving a hospital order.

He is described as white, 5ft 8in tall, of slim build with a bald head and tattoos on his neck. He was last seen wearing black trainers, blue jeans, a black jacket with a red stripe across the chest and a waterproof jacket on top. Officers are urging the public not to approach the man under any circumstances, but instead to call 999 with any sightings as a matter of urgency, quoting incident number 359 of 31/12/22.

4/4. The details of his escape were published on Twitter around 10.50pm on Saturday night. The other escapee is Johnny Brady, a 19-year-old who is also serving a hospital order but for a serious assault in Derby, say police.

He escaped the hospital at about 3.30pm on Saturday December 31, although his escape is not thought to have been related to Courtney’s. The teenage arsonist caused millions of pounds worth of damage to schools and churches in Derby. Brady took pleasure in causing damage to a number of buildings in a rampage of destruction between October and December 2020.

It began with a burglary at Murray Park School in Mickleover on October 1, 2020, and then his crimes escalated. He then burned down St Mary’s Catholic School, in Darley Abbey, on October 3, and Ravensdale Infant and Nursery School, in Mickleover, on October 4. Brady, of no fixed abode when he was sentenced on September 2, then set fire to the Orangery Cafe, in Markeaton Park, on October 6, and St Matthew’s Church, in Darley Abbey, on October 15.

There was then another arson attack at St Paul’s Church, in Quarndon, between October 14 and 16, before All Saint’s Church in Mackworth was gutted by a devastating blaze on December 3, committed while Brady was on police bail. Brady was aged just 17 when he committed his crimes. While remanded in custody, Brady admitted his offending to a prison chaplain, who said he was “unapologetic” and “got a kick” from his crimes.

Northants police said: “We are appealing for help to urgently locate teenager Johnny Brady who has absconded from St Andrew’s Healthcare facility in Northampton. Johnny left the hospital grounds in Billing Road, at about 3.30pm today (Saturday, December 31), and officers are urging the public not to approach him, but to call the Force Control Room on 999 with any sightings. “The 19-year-old, who was given a hospital order for a serious assault in Derby, is white, about 5ft 9 and of a slim build.

He was last seen wearing black Adidas tracksuit bottoms, a black hoodie, and black trainers.” A Northamptonshire Police spokesperson said: “We would like to appeal directly to Johnny to reassure him that he is not in trouble but to please return to St Andrews or make yourself known to the police. We need to make sure you are safe and receive the care that you need.

“We would also like to appeal to members of the public to under no circumstance approach Johnny. If you see him or know where he is, it is important that you call us as a matter of urgency on 999.” For more stories from where you live, visit InYourArea.