Yahoo News 'Foolish' Essex prisoner tried to escape prison after cutting off handcuffs while he was in the shower in hospital
A "foolish" prisoner who was jailed for blowing up ATMs in Essex tried to escape after cutting off his handcuffs while in the shower in hospital. James Whitlock injured himself in prison and required hospital treatment - but tried to make his escape while chained to an officer as he took a shower.
Whitlock, 39, previously of Walton-on-the-Naze in Essex, injured himself at HMP Whitemoor, near March, on August 20, 2022, and was taken for medical attention. It was decided the injuries to his neck were too severe to be treated in the prison.
He was escorted to Addenbrooke’s Hospital, in Cambridge, where he underwent surgery. After the surgery, Whitlock asked to use the shower. He remained chained to one of the officers, but they stayed outside the cubicle.
Read more: Teenager tragically 'found dead in ditch' by police days after going missing
While inside, he managed to use the taps to break from the chain. He covered his hands with his gown so the officer wouldn’t notice and then ran as they made their way back to his treatment bay. He was chased by the officers for a short distance before he was detained and taken back to the prison.
Earlier that year Whitlock had been jailed for 15 years for using explosives to steal cash machines in Essex and London. On Friday June 7 this year at Cambridge Crown Court, Whitlock had his sentence extended by a year after he admitted attempting to escape from lawful custody.
DC Emma Purser said: “Whitlock was very quickly detained after this escape attempt – only managing to get a few metres from the officers. I’m pleased that this foolish attempt to break from custody has resulted in his sentence being extended.”
Previously, Whitlock along with Anthony Crowley targeted eight cash machines from November 27, 2019 and January 14, 2020. The pair even used a petrol bomb to steal cash machines from an array of locations.
They also used gas and fuel to target the ATMs, stealing nearly £50,000 and causing approximately £15,000 in damage. Forensics, phone work and information from automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) cameras enabled detectives to link the two to, or place them at, the scenes of the offences.
