Public Warned As Killer Escapes From Prison

Police have launched a manhunt for a murderer who has gone on the run after escaping from Pentonville Prison.

John Massey made off from the jail in Islington, north London at around 6.30pm on Wednesday.

The 64-year-old was sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of a man at a pub in Hackney, east London in 1975.

It has not yet been revealed how Massey escaped from Pentonville, but an investigation is due to be launched by the the Prison Service.

Scotland Yard have advised members of the public not to approach the "potentially dangerous" offender and instead call 999 if they see him.

A police spokesman said: "Police are appealing for help in tracing a convicted murderer who has escaped from HMP Pentonville.

"He is considered potentially dangerous and should not be approached by the public if he is seen."

Pentonville houses up to 1,250 category B and C male prisoners, rather than the most serious category A offenders.

In 2009 a convicted arsonist escaped from the same jail by clinging to the underside of a security van.

Julien Chautard was sentenced to seven years in jail at Snaresbrook Crown Court in February 2009, but spent just minutes inside Pentonville before slipping out underneath the van he had arrived in.

:: Anyone with information of Massey's whereabouts is asked to call Islington Police on 020 7421 0296, or people can inform Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.