Manhunt underway for prisoner who escaped from hospital

A ‘do not approach’ warning has been issued for a prisoner after he escaped from a hospital in Greater Manchester.

A manhunt is underway for Jonathon Windsor who ‘escaped lawful custody’ as he was being ‘escorted by prison staff,’ the police said.

The 31-year-old managed to flee from Salford Royal Hospital today after receiving treatment, the MEN reports.

Now the police have released a picture of Windsor who is a prisoner at HMP Forest Bank.

He was reportedly wearing a grey top and was in handcuffs when he escaped the hospital on Stott Lane.

Windsor is known to have links across the North West and south Manchester.

Greater Manchester Police told the public not to approach him if spotted and report any sightings immediately.

One resident living near the hospital said they heard a helicopter at about 1pm circling above, but ‘thought nothing of it’ at first.

They alleged a neighbour told them police had knocked on doors and warned that a prisoner had escaped from the hospital ‘in a grey top and handcuffs,’ the outlet reports.

The resident said: ‘We hear things all the time with the hospital being on the doorstep and the motorway nearby.

‘It was only when I went outside at about 2.45 and a neighbour said the police had spoken to them and asked them if they had seen anything, as a prisoner had escaped wearing a grey top and still in handcuffs.

‘There were police cars and motorbikes everywhere and they were checking all the roads near Wilton Road and then checking the field at De La Salle.

‘They were walking round the back of the building on the playing fields obviously looking for him. It’s gone quieter now but we’ve not been told if the prisoner has been found or not.’

Officers were seen searching the Sale Water Park around 10 miles southeast of the hospital in Manchester. It borders a large wooded area and a nature reserve along the River Mersey.

A spokesperson from HMP Forest Bank said: ‘We are aware of an incident involving an HMP Forest Bank prisoner who was under escort at a local hospital.

‘We are working closely with Greater Manchester Police and cannot comment further at this time.’

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