Key Takeaways:

• Robert Hendy-Freegard, a notorious British conman, was sentenced to six years in France for ramming two police officers with his car.
• The incident occurred during an attempted escape while police were questioning him regarding his illegal dog breeding business.
• Hendy-Freegard, known as the "Puppet Master," had a history of deception, including a life sentence for kidnapping in the UK.
• Following the attack, he fled to Belgium but was extradited back to France, where he has been held since late 2022.
• His case garnered significant media attention thanks to Netflix documentaries that detailed his manipulative past.

Robert Hendy-Freegard, a well-known British conman, has been sentenced to six years in prison by a French court for injuring two police officers during a car ramming incident as he attempted to avoid apprehension. The event occurred in August 2022 at his home in the rural village of Vidaillat in central France, where he had been residing under a false identity while illegally breeding dogs. Prosecutor Alexandra Pethieu described the scene as “an appalling scene worthy of Mad Max,” emphasizing the gravity of the situation during the hearing Source SCMP.

Hendy-Freegard, 53, who gained infamy from the Netflix documentaries The Puppet Master: Hunting the Ultimate Conman and Rogue Agent, previously faced life imprisonment in the UK for a range of crimes, including kidnapping and fraud, which enabled him to defraud victims out of over £1 million (approximately $1.24 million). Although he was initially convicted in 2005, his kidnapping charges were later overturned on appeal, leading to his release in 2009. By 2015, he had relocated to France, establishing a questionable dog breeding operation with his partner, Sandra Clifton, who has been the subject of much speculation regarding her welfare during their time together Source The Guardian.

According to court records, the incident unfolded when authorities arrived to inspect his property following multiple complaints from neighbors regarding illegal breeding activities. As police questioned him, Hendy-Freegard attempted to flee in his Audi A3, striking both officers. One of the officers suffered significant injuries, including a broken nose, while another was thrown against the vehicle's windshield. He managed to escape to Belgium before being extradited back to France, where he has since remained in custody Source BBC.

During the trial, Hendy-Freegard attempted to downplay the severity of his actions, claiming, “I panicked,” and expressed remorse, stating, “I didn't stop because I'm a human being with emotions.” He further claimed that his troubles were exacerbated by the publicity from the Netflix documentaries, which he believed portrayed him unfavorably. However, his manipulative behaviors and past abuses of trust were highlighted by numerous witnesses, including local residents and those involved in his previous court cases Source The Guardian.

The conviction marks another chapter in the troubled saga of Hendy-Freegard, a figure whose life of deception continues to place him in the spotlight amidst public fascination with his notorious exploits.