A murderer and a violent offender have been apprehended following their escape from an open prison on New Year’s Day. Matthew Armstrong, aged 35, and Daniel Washbourne, aged 40, were captured today after departing from HMP Leyhill in South Gloucestershire between 5 pm and 8 pm on January 1. Armstrong, who was convicted in 2009 for a murder committed during a robbery in Warwickshire, was arrested near Henley-in-Arden train station in Warwickshire just before midday following a tip-off from a member of the public.
Washbourne, with prior convictions for assault and false imprisonment, was detained in Bristol city center around 1:30 am. Upon discovery with existing injuries, he was initially taken to a hospital by officers but is now under police custody, as stated by Avon and Somerset Police.
Armstrong was also apprehended on suspicion of robbery linked to an incident near Leyhill on the night of December 31, the day preceding his escape from HMP Leyhill. “A man unlawfully entered a residence, threatened the occupants, and stole a mobile phone and cash,” the police force reported. “Following investigations, including victim interviews and house-to-house inquiries, Armstrong was arrested on suspicion of committing this crime.”
A third individual, aged 39, who absconded with the duo, was arrested in Bristol on Saturday. He appeared in Bristol Magistrates’ Court on Monday, facing charges of absconding and is scheduled to appear before Bristol Crown Court in February.
In response to the incident, Alex Davies-Jones MP, a junior minister at the Ministry of Justice, informed Parliament that a review of HMP Leyhill will be conducted within 20 days.
Amid the search for Armstrong and Washbourne, Avon and Somerset Police released CCTV footage of the pair. A police spokesperson mentioned on Tuesday, “Initially, three men were reported to have absconded from the South Gloucestershire prison between 5-8 pm on Thursday, January 1. CCTV footage depicts the attire worn by Armstrong and Washbourne during the incident, although it is possible they may have changed clothing since then.
“Immediate measures were taken, including issuing wanted alerts for the men through national police systems on New Year’s Day, conducting address checks beyond their jurisdiction, and intelligence operations to track their potential movements.
“Efforts were also made in collaboration with other forces to sensitively inform the victims and families of the absconders’ past offenses about the latest developments.”
