Convicted German sex offender escapes guards to roof of prison

A convicted sex offender on trial for kidnapping and repeatedly raping a young girl broke free from guards on Wednesday and made his way to the edge of his prison's roof, refusing to come down.

Photo: Convicted German sex offender escapes guards to roof of prison

The man, identified only as Mario M., 36, stood in the wind for hours on a corner of the flat roof, his hands in his pockets, talking with police psychologists who had been hoisted to within a few meters (yards) on a crane platform.

Several news stations broadcast the scene live.

Mario M. was in the prison yard with two other prisoners and two guards when he suddenly bolted, climbing the facade of the building at about 7:30 a.m. (0630 GMT), authorities said.

He was not known to have made any demands.

In a case that garnered national attention, Mario M. went on trial Monday on charges that earlier this year he kidnapped a 13-year-old girl, identified only as Stephanie, held her captive for more than a month and raped her repeatedly.

He faces a possible 15 years in prison on several charges, including 24 counts of grievous sexual abuse of a child, reports AP.

He was sentenced to more than three years in prison in 1999 for sexual abuse of a child and served two-thirds of that sentence.