THE mother of an on-the-run violent offender appeared in court with another man charged with helping him to escape.

Violent offender Leighton Williams, 22, was on the run after absconding from HMP Prescoed on Sunday.

Williams was given an indeterminate sentence at Cardiff Crown Court in June 2008 after being convicted of grievous bodily harm, with a minimum of 30 months to be served before he would be considered for release.

His mother, Mandy Williams, 49, of Lewis Drive, Caerphilly, and Glyn Griffiths, 51, of Nantgarw Road, Caerphilly, appeared before Caerphilly Magistrates’ Court after they were arrested in connection with him absconding.

They were jointly charged with assisting a prisoner to escape, in that on December 2 at Prescoed they assisted Leighton Williams in escaping from Prescoed, Usk.

Defence solicitor Edward Gough said Leighton Williams surrendered to police on Tuesday morning, following the arrest of his mother and Griffiths.

He added that the prisoner had been signed out of the open prison into the care of his mother on Sunday, before she returned him that evening.

The pair did not enter pleas to the charge and will next appear at Newport Crown Court on January 4, 2013.

Prosecutor Kath Yardley agreed to the pair being given unconditional bail, adding that Leighton Williams has now been arrested, is in custody and due to be charged in the next few days.