A dangerous arsonist is on the run today after escaping from jail by clinging to the underside of the security van that drove him there.

Julien Chautard, 39, had just arrived at Pentonville prison in London after being sentenced to seven years.

However, he never even made it to his cell, slipping out beneath the van he had just arrived in.

Now prison officials face the sack for failing to notice when he hid behind the security vehicle which brought him to the jail on Friday, following sentencing at Snaresbrook crown court earlier that day.

Chautard was convicted of arson and endangering life for an offence in Hackney.

He was transferred to HMP Pentonville and arrived just after 7pm.

Prison officials counted him and several other prisoners as they got off the van but then failed to notice when he disappeared.

They gave the van driver permission to go back into the "air lock" which leads out of the jail.

By this time the arsonist is thought to have crawled under the van and escaped by hanging from its underside. His getaway method went undetected for seven hours as prison officers searched the jail until 2am.

Only then was it noticed on CCTV that a shadow under the van had not been there when it entered the jail.

A furious governor is said to have ordered all staff into the chapel and warned them someone could face the sack for the blunders.

A source said: "We were told police units and helicopters crews were out searching because the guy had burned a house down and is seen as a serious threat. He saw his chance when he got out of the van and slipped underneath and away." Scotland Yard has issued an appeal to trace the fugitive.

He is described as white, 5ft 7in tall, of slim build with fair hair and blue eyes. He has connections in France, where he was born, and is also known to have links to Hackney, Edgware and King's Cross. The Ministry of Justice said: "On March 27, Julien Christopher Chautard, escaped from custody while being processed on arrival at HMP Pentonville. The circumstances will be fully investigated."

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