A career criminal and self-described "freedom addict" who escaped a French jail in a hijacked helicopter was sentenced to a further 14 years in prison on Thursday, reports FRANCE 24.
Rédoine Faïd, who had multiple convictions for armed robbery, was sprung from the jail in Réau, 50 kilometres (30 miles) southeast of Paris, in 2018.
The 51-year-old, who was arrested after three months on the run, went on trial last month.
Just after midnight on Thursday, the Assize Court in the capital was packed with more than 100 members of the public.
When he arrived in the dock, wearing a smile and a blue sweater, Faïd joked with some of his 11 co-defendants, among them his 65-year-old brother Rachid, who he greeted with a kiss.
The 14-year sentence handed down by the judge was lighter than the 22 years that prosecutors had requested.
As his previous sentences for robbery and jailbreak were due to run to 2046, he could now be in prison until 2060.
Rachid Faïd, who took a helicopter pilot hostage and forced him to land in front of the visiting rooms of Reau prison, got 10 years.
A third brother, 63-year-old Brahim, who was inside the visiting rooms with Rédoine at the time, swore during the seven-week trial that he had not known of the plan.
Prosecutors believed him and called for his acquittal. The court did not, and handed him a one-year suspended prison sentence.
Three of Rédoine Faid's nephews, who helped him during his escape and time on the run, were sentenced to two, six and eight years in prison.