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Police catch second Pentonville prison escapee Police catch second Pentonville prison escaper
(about 4 hours later)
Police have caught the second prisoner who escaped from Pentonville prison last week. Police have caught the second man who escaped from Pentonville prison last week.
James Whitlock and another prisoner, Matthew Baker, escaped from the north London prison on 6 November.James Whitlock and another prisoner, Matthew Baker, escaped from the north London prison on 6 November.
Officers from the Metropolitan police arrested Whitlock, 31, in Hackney, east London, on Sunday afternoon. A 48-year-old man and a 19-year-old man were also arrested at the address on suspicion of assisting an offender.Officers from the Metropolitan police arrested Whitlock, 31, in Hackney, east London, on Sunday afternoon. A 48-year-old man and a 19-year-old man were also arrested at the address on suspicion of assisting an offender.
Baker, 28, was found on Wednesday less than 10 miles away in east London, having spent about three days on the run.Baker, 28, was found on Wednesday less than 10 miles away in east London, having spent about three days on the run.
It is believed the pair used diamond-tipped cutting equipment to break through their cell bars at Pentonville before scaling an outer perimeter wall. It was rumoured in the prison that they had folded sheets into the shape of a person to make it look like they were asleep in their beds and escaped through a cell window on the fifth floor, using more sheets to lower themselves down.It is believed the pair used diamond-tipped cutting equipment to break through their cell bars at Pentonville before scaling an outer perimeter wall. It was rumoured in the prison that they had folded sheets into the shape of a person to make it look like they were asleep in their beds and escaped through a cell window on the fifth floor, using more sheets to lower themselves down.
Baker was found at his sister’s house in Ilford where he was found hiding under a bed. He was taken to hospital for treatment for a broken leg believed to have been suffered in the course of the prison break.Baker was found at his sister’s house in Ilford where he was found hiding under a bed. He was taken to hospital for treatment for a broken leg believed to have been suffered in the course of the prison break.
Kelly Baker, 21, appeared at Highbury Corner magistrates court on Friday accused of harbouring him. She is also accused of buying him hair dye so he could disguise himself. A 33-year-old man and 24-year-old woman were arrested on 9 and 10 November respectively on suspicion of assisting an offender and bailed pending further inquiries, police said.Kelly Baker, 21, appeared at Highbury Corner magistrates court on Friday accused of harbouring him. She is also accused of buying him hair dye so he could disguise himself. A 33-year-old man and 24-year-old woman were arrested on 9 and 10 November respectively on suspicion of assisting an offender and bailed pending further inquiries, police said.
Baker had been awaiting sentencing after his conviction two weeks ago for stabbing a man 25 times in Dagenham, east London. Whitlock was on remand, charged with conspiracy to burgle.Baker had been awaiting sentencing after his conviction two weeks ago for stabbing a man 25 times in Dagenham, east London. Whitlock was on remand, charged with conspiracy to burgle.
Following their escape, the prison’s independent inspection watchdog said Pentonville was a “soft target” due to the “dilapidated” condition of the Victorian building.Following their escape, the prison’s independent inspection watchdog said Pentonville was a “soft target” due to the “dilapidated” condition of the Victorian building.
Both prisoners escaped from the category B prison’s G wing where 21-year-old inmate Jamal Mahmoud was fatally stabbed last month in an attack by other prisoners that left two other men injured. Both men escaped from the category B prison’s G wing where 21-year-old prisoner Jamal Mahmoud was fatally stabbed last month in an attack by other prisoners that left two other men injured.
Speaking after the breakout, Emily Thornberry, the local Labour MP, said the escape was the “final straw” and called for the prison to be closed down.Speaking after the breakout, Emily Thornberry, the local Labour MP, said the escape was the “final straw” and called for the prison to be closed down.
“People don’t seem to be safe inside Pentonville and now it transpires inmates can escape. That is the final straw. If they don’t have control of the place, what is the point of it being there?” she told the Islington Gazette.“People don’t seem to be safe inside Pentonville and now it transpires inmates can escape. That is the final straw. If they don’t have control of the place, what is the point of it being there?” she told the Islington Gazette.
“This was built in 1842 and is totally inappropriate for modern needs. It should have shut a long time ago and needs to close as soon as possible.”“This was built in 1842 and is totally inappropriate for modern needs. It should have shut a long time ago and needs to close as soon as possible.”
The prison was singled out last year by the former justice secretary Michael Gove as “the most dramatic example of failure” within the prisons estate, raising the prospect of its closure under the government’s “new for old” scheme.The prison was singled out last year by the former justice secretary Michael Gove as “the most dramatic example of failure” within the prisons estate, raising the prospect of its closure under the government’s “new for old” scheme.
Steve Gillan, general secretary of the Prison Officers’ Association, said that the Pentonville breakout was a result of years of under-investment and staff cuts, and the focus should fall on the government for breaches in prison security.Steve Gillan, general secretary of the Prison Officers’ Association, said that the Pentonville breakout was a result of years of under-investment and staff cuts, and the focus should fall on the government for breaches in prison security.
The news of the escape came the morning after a large-scale riot in Bedford prison over inmate anger about understaffing. The news of the escape came the morning after a large-scale riot in HMP Bedford over prisoners’ anger about understaffing.
No one was harmed but the riot prompted fresh fears that prisons are facing unprecedented levels of underfunding and understaffing, with inmates left either unsupervised or locked up in cells for long periods of time. No one was harmed but the riot prompted fresh fears that prisons are facing unprecedented levels of underfunding and understaffing, with prisoners left either unsupervised or locked up in cells for long periods of time.
Holloway women’s prison, another Victorian-era jail less than a mile from Pentonville, was shut down earlier this year with many of the female inmates transferred to Downview prison in Surrey. Holloway women’s prison, another Victorian-era jail less than a mile from Pentonville, was shut down earlier this year with many of the female prisoners transferred to Downview prison in Surrey.