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Nationwide hunt for escaped convict
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Police forces nationwide have joined the hunt for a violent prisoner sprung from the clutches of prison officers as they escorted him to hospital.
Andrew Farndon made the "planned" escape as he was being escorted from Highpoint prison to West Suffolk Hospital in Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, for treatment on Wednesday.
It is understood the 26-year-old, whose family live in the Coventry area, inflicted a serious knife wound on himself in prison, before being taken to the hospital's Accident & Emergency (A&E) department in a taxi accompanied by two guards.
When they arrived, a waiting gunman confronted the male and female prison officials, before fleeing with Farndon across the car park, Suffolk Police said.
Detective Chief Inspector Nick Bennett said searches were continuing in Suffolk but said it was unlikely Farndon was still in the county.
Forces across the country, including the neighbouring counties of Norfolk, Essex and Cambridgeshire, along with West Midlands Police, have issued appeals for information.
Mr Bennett added: "Along with other forces, we are pursuing various lines of inquiry, including contacting his family, friends and associates in the West Midlands. We are also studying CCTV and number-plate recognition records to try to identify the car which was used in the escape."
"Another line of inquiry is whether any mobile phones were used in the planning and execution of this escape. His prison cell has been searched and various items recovered. No blade was found in this search."
Farndon's escape is the second in a week, after an "extremely dangerous" category A prisoner, murder suspect John Anslow, was sprung from a prison van after it left Hewell Prison in Worcestershire. Justice minister Crispin Blunt said there was no suggestion the incidents were linked.
The appeal for help to trace category A prisoner John Anslow will feature on the BBC1 programme Crimewatch on Thursday night.
