Robert Hendy-Freegard, a British man previously featured in a Netflix documentary, has denied charges of assaulting two French police officers with his car during an escape attempt, appearing in court this Thursday.
Hendy-Freegard, 53, known as the Puppet Master due to his history as a prolific fraudster, is accused of fleeing after injuring the officers at his residence in Creuse, central France.
Arrested in Belgium and extradited back to France, he has been incarcerated since 2022.
In 2005, Hendy-Freegard was sentenced to life in the UK for kidnapping and defrauding multiple women of over £1m by posing as an MI5 agent.
His kidnapping conviction was overturned in 2009, leading to his release. Around 2015, he relocated to Vidaillat, Creuse, where he started a dog breeding operation with his British partner, Sandra Clifton.
The incident leading to his recent charges occurred on 25 August 2022, when Hendy-Freegard reportedly struck two officers with his Audi A3 as he drove away from his property during an inspection by French authorities.
The altercation resulted in severe injuries to the officers, with one being carried on the bonnet for 100 yards. Hendy-Freegard was apprehended two weeks later in Belgium and initially faced an attempted murder charge, later reduced to violence against public officials.
In court, under the alias David Hendy, he refuted claims of intentional harm. He attributed his actions to emotional distress caused by Clifton’s decision to leave him and expressed regret over the incident.
He also criticized the impact of the Netflix documentary on his mental health, suggesting it played a role in the events.
The hearing revealed the couple’s struggles with maintaining their property due to Brexit-related issues. Neighbours had expressed concerns over Clifton’s living conditions, although no legal action ensued after she assured police of her safety.
Hendy-Freegard, the inspiration behind Netflix’s “The Puppet Master: Hunting the Ultimate Conman” and the film “Rogue Agent,” faces a potential 10-year prison term and a €150,000 fine if convicted of the charges.
His legal representation has seen changes, with his previous lawyer stating he never intended to kill anyone, which could have led to a longer sentence.
This ongoing legal drama highlights the complex life of a man once notorious for his deceptive prowess, now facing the consequences of his alleged actions in a foreign country.
