He will now appear in court – but police continue to hunt two absconders
A man is due to appear in Bristol Magistrates Court after being accused of fleeing from prison
A man has been charged for fleeing from a prison near Bristol, with a further two men – including a convicted murderer – still on the loose.
Aaron Thomas, 39, was arrested yesterday (Saturday, January 3) after allegedly absconding from HMP Leyhill in South Gloucestershire on New Year’s Day. He has been charged with escaping from lawful custody and remanded to appear in Bristol Magistrates’ Court tomorrow (Monday, January 5).
Two men who are believed to have fled the open prison at the same time as Thomas, 35-year-old convicted murderer Matthew Armstrong and 40-year-old Daniel Washbourne, remain at large. Police have urged the public not to approach either man.
Daniel Washbourne (L) and Matthew Armstrong (R) are on the run having fled HMP Leyhill on New Year’s Day
An Avon and Somerset Police spokesperson said: “Aaron Thomas, 39, was arrested on Saturday 3 January. He has been remanded to appear before magistrates in Bristol tomorrow (Monday 5 January).
“Enquiries to locate two other men as part of the same investigation – Matthew Armstrong and Daniel Washbourne (pictured below) – continue. The pair have links to Warwickshire and Herefordshire respectively.
“As a precaution, we would advise any members of the public who see the two men to not approach them. If you see either of the men please immediately call 999 and quote reference number 5226000700. Alternatively, if you have information that may assist our enquiries, please call 101.”
Thomas, Armstrong and Washbourne are thought to have fled HMP Leyhill, an open prison, at some point between 5pm and 8pm on January 1.
According to the Ministry of Justice, open prisons have, “minimal security and allow eligible prisoners to spend most of their day away from the prison on licence to carry out work, education or for other resettlement purposes.”
They house prisoners that have been risk-assessed and deemed suitable for open conditions.
Thomas was arrested in Bristol on Saturday (January 3) but police have so far been unable to locate Armstrong or Washbourne.
Armstrong, who has links to Warwickshire, was convicted of a murder that took place in the county during a robbery in the late 2000s, police said.
He is described as white, male, about 5ft 9in, with ginger hair and scars on his forehead. He was last seen wearing a burgundy/orange coat, grey cap, grey tracksuit suit bottoms with blue on the side, and black boots.
Washbourne has convictions for violence against the person and false imprisonment offences. He has links to the Herefordshire area.
He is described as white, male, about 5ft 6in, slim, with brown hair and clean shaven. He was last seen wearing a cream fleece, blue tracksuit bottoms, blue hat and black trainers.