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'Name switch twin' due in court 'Twin switch' prisoner in court
(about 11 hours later)
A remand prisoner accused of escaping from a Hampshire court by allegedly pretending to be his twin brother, is due in court later. A remand prisoner accused of escaping from a court by pretending to be his twin brother has been sent back into custody after appearing in court.
Simon Maclellan, 27, from Gosport in Hampshire, is charged with attempting to pervert the course of justice and escaping lawful custody.Simon Maclellan, 27, from Gosport in Hampshire, is charged with attempting to pervert the course of justice and escaping lawful custody.
He will appear before Fareham Magistrates' Court later. He did not enter a plea when he appeared before Portsmouth magistrates.
His twin brother Mark also faces a charge of attempting to pervert the course of justice. His brother Mark, 27, was also charged with attempting to pervert the course of justice.
Mark Maclellan is due before magistrates on 30 July. Lesser offence
His brother was on remand at Winchester Prison for a serious assault charge when he is accused of switching identities on Friday afternoon before magistrates mistakenly freed him. He is due to appear before Portsmouth magistrates on 30 July.
The pair are not identical twins but the mistake was not spotted by prison officials until shortly after 2100 BST on Friday. Simon Maclellan was on remand at HMP Winchester for a serious assault, when he allegedly walked free from a court on Friday afternoon.
Simon Maclellan was arrested at a property in Fareham on Saturday. He is accused of pretending to be his twin brother, who was also on remand for a lesser offence and was due to be released by magistrates.
A third man, Mark Reedes, also 27, was arrested on Saturday in connection with the incident and has been charged with obstructing police and cultivating cannabis. He is also due in court on 30 July. He will next appear at Portsmouth Crown Court in October.
A third man, Mark Reedes, 27, arrested over the incident has been charged with obstructing police and cultivating cannabis. He is also due in court on 30 July.