No prison can hold him: 7ft 2in tall Jude Medcalf (Picture: SWNS)

A 7ft 2in tall criminal was freed from custody partly because there were no prison beds big enough for him.

Jude Medcalf was handed a six-month curfew and 12-month community order owing to him suffering from Klinefelter syndrome, a chromosomal disorder that means he is still growing and gives him adolescent emotions despite being 23.

Medcalf fired a BB gun through a woman’s window, stole Christmas presents and NHS workers’ cash before being found with stolen food including rump steak from a pub.

William Parkhill, defending, told Exeter crown court he had already spent 75 days in prison, where the beds and uniforms were too small for him.




‘He is also a target because he is big enough to be seen as someone who it is impressive to assault, but immature enough that he cannot deal with it,’ he said.

‘He has been targeted twice and had a black eye the last time he came to court.’

Recorder Adam Vaitilingam QC acknowledged Medcalf had experienced a ‘lot of difficulty in life’.

But while he said the ‘temptation is to pass a lengthy sentence’, he added: ‘You have recently been diagnosed with Klinefelter Syndrome, which has no doubt caused you problems throughout your life with people picking on you.’