Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Thief gives false name to flee jail

Ellen Branagh
Wednesday 16 June 2010 00:00 BST

A prisoner escaped from jail by giving another inmate's name as he walked out the gates.

James Whitlock, 25, left Edmunds Hill in Stradishall, Suffolk, on Monday morning after applying for a licence for temporary release using another prisoner's name.

The alarm was raised but Whitlock, who was serving two years and nine months for theft, was still on the run last night, Suffolk Police said. An investigation was also under way at the jail.

Edmunds Hill is a Category C jail – for prisoners who are unlikely to try to escape.

Police warn that anyone who sees Whitlock should not approach him, but contact them. He is white, slim and with brown hair.

A police spokeswoman said the escaped prisoner has connections to Walton-on-the-Naze, Great Dunmow, Frinton on Sea, Kirby Cross and Chingford in the Essex area, and to Maidenhead in Berkshire.

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in