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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Escaped armed robber still on run | Escaped armed robber still on run |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| A 24-year-old armed robber who escaped from a prison van after staff were threatened by two masked men with a gun is still on the run. | A 24-year-old armed robber who escaped from a prison van after staff were threatened by two masked men with a gun is still on the run. |
| Craig Hickinbottom, who was being taken to Blakenhurst Prison, Worcestershire, and the other two, remain at large after attempts to find them overnight. | |
| Hickinbottom, serving a five-year and 11-month term, had been in court on Wednesday on a motoring charge. | Hickinbottom, serving a five-year and 11-month term, had been in court on Wednesday on a motoring charge. |
| He has criminal and family connections in the West Midlands, police said. | He has criminal and family connections in the West Midlands, police said. |
| 'Clean-shaven' | 'Clean-shaven' |
| But they dismissed speculation that the fugitive had links to high-profile Birmingham-based drugs gangs. | But they dismissed speculation that the fugitive had links to high-profile Birmingham-based drugs gangs. |
| Det Ch Insp Kevin Purcell said: "He's got contacts within the Black Country area. | Det Ch Insp Kevin Purcell said: "He's got contacts within the Black Country area. |
| "With that in mind we've obviously alerted Staffordshire Police and West Midlands Police." | "With that in mind we've obviously alerted Staffordshire Police and West Midlands Police." |
| The prison van was forced to a halt by an Audi shortly after 1300 BST, and Hickinbottom was released in Hewell Lane. | The prison van was forced to a halt by an Audi shortly after 1300 BST, and Hickinbottom was released in Hewell Lane. |
| The van was returning Hickinbottom to Blakenhurst Prison | The van was returning Hickinbottom to Blakenhurst Prison |
| The Audi was last seen going north on the M5. | The Audi was last seen going north on the M5. |
| Hickinbottom was jailed for two armed robberies committed in Stourbridge and Kingswinford in 2002. | Hickinbottom was jailed for two armed robberies committed in Stourbridge and Kingswinford in 2002. |
| He was released from prison on licence in June but was recalled a few days later. | He was released from prison on licence in June but was recalled a few days later. |
| The convict is described as white, of medium build and about 5ft 11in tall. | The convict is described as white, of medium build and about 5ft 11in tall. |
| He has blue eyes and close cropped ginger hair and wears a beard at times but was believed to be clean-shaven at the time of his escape. | He has blue eyes and close cropped ginger hair and wears a beard at times but was believed to be clean-shaven at the time of his escape. |