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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Police continue hunt for escaped prisoner Andrew Farndon | Police continue hunt for escaped prisoner Andrew Farndon |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| Police are continuing to hunt for a "dangerous" prisoner who escaped when two guards were threatened at gunpoint as he arrived at a Suffolk hospital. | Police are continuing to hunt for a "dangerous" prisoner who escaped when two guards were threatened at gunpoint as he arrived at a Suffolk hospital. |
| Andrew Farndon, 26, who is serving an indeterminate sentence for causing grievous bodily harm was being taken by taxi to hospital in Bury St Edmunds. | Andrew Farndon, 26, who is serving an indeterminate sentence for causing grievous bodily harm was being taken by taxi to hospital in Bury St Edmunds. |
| Det Ch Insp Nick Bennett said people should not confront Farndon or the gunman. | Det Ch Insp Nick Bennett said people should not confront Farndon or the gunman. |
| Farndon previously escaped from court by leaping from the dock in 2007. | Farndon previously escaped from court by leaping from the dock in 2007. |
| He had arrived at West Suffolk Hospital in Bury St Edmunds at 18:50 GMT on Wednesday when the gunman threatened the guards. He was being taken for treatment to a knife wound. | |
| Hospital staff raised the alarm after saying they could see a man with a gun outside the accident and emergency department, pointing the weapon at two prison officers. | Hospital staff raised the alarm after saying they could see a man with a gun outside the accident and emergency department, pointing the weapon at two prison officers. |
| Hammer attack | |
| Moments later, police received a second call from the prison officers, from HMP Highpoint, who said they had a gun pulled on them by a man who had confronted them as they arrived. | Moments later, police received a second call from the prison officers, from HMP Highpoint, who said they had a gun pulled on them by a man who had confronted them as they arrived. |
| Both the prisoner and the man with the gun had then run away across the car park. No-one was hurt in the incident. | Both the prisoner and the man with the gun had then run away across the car park. No-one was hurt in the incident. |
| Farndon, who is originally from Coventry, is described as white with a shaved head and goatee beard. | Farndon, who is originally from Coventry, is described as white with a shaved head and goatee beard. |
| He was wearing a dark blue baseball cap and a light-coloured jumper that was padded on the right side due to an injury to his shoulder. | |
| It is thought the pair may have left Suffolk. Police are now liasing with forces across the country to try to find them. | |
| When Farndon escaped by leaping from the dock at Coventry Crown Court in 2007, he was on trial over a hammer attack which left his victim with a fractured skull. | When Farndon escaped by leaping from the dock at Coventry Crown Court in 2007, he was on trial over a hammer attack which left his victim with a fractured skull. |
| 'Degree of planning' | |
| He was sentenced in his absence to an indeterminate sentence for public protection and told he must serve at least two years before being considered for parole. | He was sentenced in his absence to an indeterminate sentence for public protection and told he must serve at least two years before being considered for parole. |
| He was rated a Category C prisoner, a security classification which meant he was considered unlikely to make a determined escape attempt. | |
| However, after his escape on Wednesday, Det Ch Insp Bennett said it seemed "highly likely" the injuries Farndon had received in prison were contrived to ensure a trip to hospital. | However, after his escape on Wednesday, Det Ch Insp Bennett said it seemed "highly likely" the injuries Farndon had received in prison were contrived to ensure a trip to hospital. |
| He said: "That obviously seems highly likely. I don't think we can look at any other eventuality. | He said: "That obviously seems highly likely. I don't think we can look at any other eventuality. |
| "There would appear to have been a degree of planning in this, with associates on the outside." | "There would appear to have been a degree of planning in this, with associates on the outside." |
| Asked if Farndon was dangerous, the detective said: "He was convicted of GBH which, barring murder, makes him as dangerous as you can get. | Asked if Farndon was dangerous, the detective said: "He was convicted of GBH which, barring murder, makes him as dangerous as you can get. |
| "We've had the police helicopter up, deployed dogs, spoken to a number of members of the public who witnessed it, and recovered a number of items from the area. | "We've had the police helicopter up, deployed dogs, spoken to a number of members of the public who witnessed it, and recovered a number of items from the area. |
| "We know at least two people are involved, maybe more. Members of the public should not approach him." | "We know at least two people are involved, maybe more. Members of the public should not approach him." |
| Budget cuts | |
| The man with the gun is described as white, in his mid 40s, about 5ft 8in tall, of stocky build, possibly with a Scottish accent. He was wearing a white top and blue jeans. | |
| It is thought they may have escaped in a dark car. | |
| Police said they had begun a comprehensive search of the area, including the use of the force helicopter, and were liaising with other agencies and talking to witnesses. | |
| Officers are asking anyone with information about the incident or where Farndon is now to call Suffolk Police as soon as possible - using 999 if necessary for sightings, or 101 to pass on information. | Officers are asking anyone with information about the incident or where Farndon is now to call Suffolk Police as soon as possible - using 999 if necessary for sightings, or 101 to pass on information. |
| Police are advising members of the public not to approach either of the men but to call officers straight away. | Police are advising members of the public not to approach either of the men but to call officers straight away. |
| Dean Acaster, of the Prison Officers' Association, raised concerns over security measures in the prison service. | Dean Acaster, of the Prison Officers' Association, raised concerns over security measures in the prison service. |
| "Are the security restrictions in place in establishments good enough?" he asked. | "Are the security restrictions in place in establishments good enough?" he asked. |
| "When the prison service is faced with budget cuts year on year, there could well be implications around security." | "When the prison service is faced with budget cuts year on year, there could well be implications around security." |
| A Prison Service spokeswoman said the incident was a matter for the police, but a full Prison Service inquiry would follow. | A Prison Service spokeswoman said the incident was a matter for the police, but a full Prison Service inquiry would follow. |