Notorious British Conman Sentenced to Six Years in France for Assaulting Police Officers

Robert Hendy-Freegard, a 53-year-old British conman with a violent past, has been sentenced to six years in prison after ramming his car into two police officers in France. The incident, which occurred in the village of Vidaillat, highlights his history of deception and manipulation.

In a shocking turn of events, Robert Hendy-Freegard, a convicted conman previously imprisoned in the UK, has been sentenced to six years by a French court for violently colliding with two police officers who were attempting to question him. The 53-year-old, who moved to central France to breed beagles under a false identity, was found guilty after inflicting injuries on the gendarmes during a chaotic incident.

Hendy-Freegard's criminal history dates back to 2005 when he was sentenced for kidnap and fraud, after duping various victims, including women and students, out of £1 million by posing as an MI5 spy. Despite serving four years of his sentence in the UK, he was released early when some charges were overturned on appeal.

The dramatic latest incident unfolded in 2022 when the police approached Hendy-Freegard about his suspicious activities. In a panic, he fled in his car, striking one officer and throwing another against the windshield, leading to a scene described by prosecutor Alexandra Pethieu as reminiscent of the film "Mad Max." In court, Hendy-Freegard claimed emotional distress prompted his reckless actions, arguing he wasn’t aggressive but simply afraid.

Witnesses had previously expressed concerns regarding Hendy-Freegard's influence over his partner, Sandra Clifton, which was brought to light through Netflix documentaries. Following the airing of these documentaries, Clifton’s children sought assistance in locating her, suspecting she was under his coercive control.

Local villagers voiced their concerns about Hendy-Freegard’s manipulative behaviors, with Martine Laporte, the mayor of Vidaillat, asserting that he poses a continuous risk of repeating his offenses if released. This latest chapter in Hendy-Freegard's tumultuous life underscores the ongoing issue of criminal behavior masked by charisma and deceit.