A woman who escaped to Barbados with a shooting suspect and supported him financially for several months has been sent to jail.
Rashawn Bedeau, 28, left the UK with Ellis Thornton in January 2023. At that time, Thornton was wanted by police for an incident in Halifax.
West Yorkshire Police said Bedeau continued to support Thornton financially as he moved first to Suriname and then to Mexico.
Bedeau, from Arley Street in Leeds, was sentenced to two years in jail at Leeds Crown Court on Friday for assisting an offender. She had already been found guilty at trial.
Det Sgt Andrew Ellis said: “Bedeau helped Ellis Thornton leave the country and continued to fund his lifestyle for several months despite knowing he was a wanted suspect for a serious offence here in West Yorkshire.”
“I hope today’s sentence sends a message out to anyone who is in two minds about hindering a police inquiry in this manner. There is a penalty to pay.”
A police spokesperson said that although Thornton is still wanted in the UK, he is currently being held in the United States on different charges.
Speaking after the sentencing, Detective Sergeant Andrew Ellis of the Homicide and Major Enquiry Team, said: “Bedeau helped Ellis Thornton leave the country and continued to fund his lifestyle for several months despite knowing he was a wanted suspect for a serious offence here in West Yorkshire.”
“I hope today’s sentence sends a message out to anyone who is in two minds about hindering a police enquiry in this manner. There is a penalty to pay.”
