A WOMAN confronted by a man on the run managed to capture the encounter on video just moments before he escaped from police once again.

The Christchurch resident came face-to-face with the suspect while sitting in the back garden of her home off Somerford Road on Thursday afternoon.

After asking if he could have a drink, use the phone and hide inside, the young man ran through her house to escape from officers but discovered the front door was locked.

He ran back out towards the rear garden away from an officer giving chase, colliding with the screen door, before jumping over the fence at the back without being caught.

He left blood on the blinds when he was looking for police out of the front room window.

Dorset Police launched a major search for the man, who had been seen running through the streets of Somerford and Mudeford, on Thursday.

They said he was wanted in connection with a stolen bike and on suspicion of perverting the course of justice.

The woman, Lucy, said she was sat in the garden of her house in Caxton Close when she looked up and saw the topless man, who was bleeding, stood in front of her.

“He was sweating very heavily and was very out of breath,” she said.

“It was so bizarre.

“He asked for a glass of water and I had a couple of cans of coke on the table; I didn’t want to let him in my house.

“I kept him talking for about 10 minutes it seemed. He wanted to use the phone to call his mum. “Then he asked if he could hide inside. I said I didn’t want to get involved.

“He looked such a young lad. I almost felt a bit sorry for him.”

Lucy, who asked not to be fully identified, said he had short hair and was wearing a pair of jogging bottoms and plimsolls and had injured his foot.

“I tried to keep him talking as I could hear the sirens and the police helicopter was over my house for quite some time.

“He then used the phone to dial his mum and quickly hung up.

“At this point he was getting more and more panicky and asked if I had a car.”

She added: “I could hear police officers coming around the corner and they were shouting, asking if he was there.

“One of them chased after him into the house, but he managed to get back out and away from them and leapt over the fence and into the industrial park.

“The whole thing was just crazy.

“I just can’t believe they didn’t catch him. There were more than 20 officers out looking and the helicopter.

“I didn’t think he was going to hurt me, he never threatened me or anything like that.”

No arrests

A spokesperson for Dorset Police said yesterday that no-one had been arrested in connection with the incident.

Investigations are ongoing, the force spokesperson added.