UK: Arsonist escapes prison clinging under security van

Reuters on Yahoo ^ | 3/30/09 | Tim Castle

[NormsRevenge]

LONDON (Reuters) – Police were hunting Monday a convicted arsonist who escaped from London's Pentonville prison by clinging to the underside of the security van that brought him there.

Julien Chautard, 39, gave prison officers the slip shortly after he was counted off the van, newspapers reported.

His disappearance Friday evening was not noticed before the van was cleared to drive out of the jail.

It was only when CCTV footage was checked seven hours later that officers noticed a shadow under the van that had not been there before.

Chautard had been sentenced earlier in the day at Snaresbrook Crown Court to seven years imprisonment for two counts of arson, Scotland Yard said.

[OneWingedShark]

Maybe the “security” needs to be ‘fired’.

[bgill]

There’ll be a hot time
In the old town, tonight.
FIRE, FIRE, FIRE!

[Jemian]

Was Kenneth Grahamn anywhere around? This reminds me so much of The Wind In the Willows. I expect the miscreant called the officer a plump visage, too.

[I Buried My Guns]

That was a great book. read it when I was twelve, and still remember it.