Prisoner escapes from van after armed-hold up in Feltham

10:31am Monday 12th January 2009

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A prisoner is on the run after being freed from a prison van by armed men in Feltham this morning.

Wayne Joseph Connor, 20, who was due to stand trial today accused of two counts of racially aggravated ABH, two counts of aggravated burglary and one count of GBH, escaped from the van after two men wearing balaclavas threatened the vehicles crew with a shotgun at around 7.30am just before the Clockhouse Roundabout, Feltham.

The six-cell prison van, owned by Serco, had just collected three prisoners from Feltham Young Offenders’ Institute and was en route to the Woolwich Crown Court where Connor was due to be tried.

The van was then forced to pull over by a dark blue car and two masked men left the car, approached the van and smashed the driver’s side window.

The van’s crew were threatened with a shotgun and the two men demanded Connor be released. The two men and Connor then escaped in the car.

The other two prisoners held in the van remained secured in their separate compartments and are still in custody.

The van’s driver was taken to hospital by London Ambulance Service after being injured by flying glass. He has since been released.

The public are advised not to approach Connor but instead contact police immediately.

A spokesman for Serco said they company was cooperating with the police investigation and praised the firm’s staff who, he said, worked extremely hard in challenging circumstances.

Anyone with information should contact Hounslow police on 0208 247 6060 Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.