Where exactly is Pentonville prison and how did the prisoners escape?
TWO prisoners are still on the run after an amazing escape from Pentonville prison in north London.
They were only discovered missing on Monday morning when jail staff found 'mannequins sleeping' in their prison beds.
A manhunt is now underway to find James Whitlock, aged 31, and 28-year-old Matthew Baker.
Police have warned the public not to approach the two convicts as they could become violent.
Baker was on remand awaiting sentencing after being found guilty of the attempted murder of a man at a flat in Dagenham. He was due to be sentenced on Friday.
Whitlock, who has the word 'Tracy' tattooed on his body, was also on remand after being charged with conspiracy to raid more than 19 ATMs.
What and where is Pentonville Prison?
HM Prison Pentonville (known as The Ville) is a Catergory B/C men's jail operated by Her Majesty's Prison Service.
The prison is not actually within Pentonville itself, but is located further north, on the Caledonian Rd in Islington, north London.
It is a local prison, holding adult males remanded by local magistrates' and crown court, and those serving short sentences or beginning longer sentences.
The prison is divided into these main wings:
- A wing: Induction and First Night Centre (newly arrived prisoners)
- J wing: Resettlement wing
- C wing: Remands and convicted prisoners
- D wing: Enhanced prisoners
- E wing: Detoxification Unit overflow
- F wing: Detoxification Unit
- G wing: Education, Workshops and Offending behaviour courses
There have been reported problems with drugs and weapons being thrown into the prison and severe shortages of staff in recent years.
How did the two inmates escape such a highly-secure jail?
James Whitlock and Matthew Baker used mannequins to make it look like they were asleep in their cells.
Their escape was only discovered when officers carrying out checks found two pillows made to look like bodies in the prisoners' beds on Monday morning.
The pair arranged the pillows in their beds to fool prison officers carrying out checks that they were both asleep.
Then they cut through the bars on their window using a diamond-tipped saw smuggled in from the outside - possibly using a drone.
Seconds later they wriggled through the tiny gap, dropped on to a flat roof and lowered themselves to the ground using “ropes” made out of bed sheets.
After sprinting to the perimeter they climbed over a 25ft wall
The men were not required for prison work, which is why they were not reported missing.
Have there been any other escapes from the jail?
There have been quite a few in recent years.
In 2006, a prisoner escaped during transit between Pentonville Prison and a hospital facility.
Three years later, convicted arsonist Julien Chautard escaped by clinging on to the underside of the prison van which had delivered him to the jail from Snaresbrook Crown Court.
He returned to the prison four days later after giving himself up to police.
In 2012, convicted murderer John Massey escaped from within the prison confines but was recaptured in Kent two days later following what police described as "an intelligence-led operation".
Any notable former inmates?
In 1895 Oscar Wilde spent time in Pentonville before being transferred to Wandsworth.
In 1974 Simon Dee, a radio/television personality, served 28 days for non-payment of rates.
In 1980 Hugh Cornwell of The Stranglers served a sentence for drug possession.
In 1984 George Best spent seven days imprisoned for driving under alcohol and assault.
In 2005 Pete Doherty was there and wrote a song about the prison, named 'Pentonville'.
In 2009 Boy George served a sentence for the assault and false imprisonment of a male escort.
In 2010 George Michael served time for drug driving offences.
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