09/01/2007

Police search for escaped London prisoner

A violent prisoner from Wormwood Scrubs has absconded after an ambulance taking him to hospital was held up at gunpoint.

Police are searching for inmate Joe Farnan who escaped while on the way to Hammersmith Hospital after two men wearing balaclavas, one brandishing a handgun, held up the ambulance and threatened his three guards. They were forced to unlock Farnan's handcuffs and he was taken to a waiting car, believed to be a silver coloured Volvo.

Farnan, who is serving a sentence for robbery and possession of a firearm, had faked a collapse while in prison.

Police said that he should be considered dangerous and should not be approached.

The 27-year-old inmate has made off on two previous occasions. In May 2000 he escaped from a prison van and was recaptured three months later. In 2001 he escaped from Standford jail where he was being held after being convicted on robbery charges and firearms offences.

Anyone sighting Farnan should contact police immediately.

(SP/EF)

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