Investigators leading the manhunt have release new CCTV
CCTV January 4 – Gloucester Road North/Matthew Armstrong.mp4
Police hunting two men – one a convicted murderer – who walked away from an open prison have renewed their appeal for information on their whereabouts, releasing two new CCTV images.
Avon and Somerset Police have been hunting Matthew Armstrong, 35, and Daniel Washbourne, 40, who fled HMP Leyhill in South Gloucestershire at some point between 5pm and 8pm on New Year’s Day.
Armstrong, who has links to Warwickshire, was convicted of a murder that took place in the county during a robbery in the late 2000s.
Staff at HMP Leyhill reported the absconders to Avon and Somerset Police and officers attended the prison at about 9.45pm to begin carrying out enquiries.
A spokesperson for the force today said detectives were reviewing a number of reported sightings received over recent days and further CCTV enquiries have been completed to help investigators to us build up an understanding of the movements of Armstrong and Washbourne.
Daniel Washbourne (L) and Matthew Armstrong (R) are on the run having fled HMP Leyhill on New Year’s Day
The force revealed that on Saturday January 3 they received a report of two men matching their description who were pictured in Ashley Road, Bristol, at about 10.35am. They were seen walking towards the Stokes Croft area.
The following day, Sunday January 4 at around 9.35am, police said a man was is captured on CCTV walking along Filton Road and then Gloucester Road North in Filton, stopping at one stage to look at bus timetables.
The man was wearing a burgundy coat matching the one worn by Armstrong when he left HMP Leyhill.
(Image: Avon and Somerset Police)
Police said they believe he continued to walk along the same road and was seen in the Patchway area at about 11.05am to 11.15am.
A spokesperson said: “Detectives are also following up on other lines of enquiry, which we are unable to go into detail about at this time, because to do so could hinder our investigation.
“Neither Armstrong and Washbourne are known to have any connection to Avon and Somerset. While we continue to keep an open mind, we believe there is a distinct possibility that they will have sought to travel outside of our force area to try to avoid detection, so we are continuing to work closely with other police forces in other parts of the country.”
Armstrong is described as white, about 5ft 9ins, with ginger hair and has links to Warwickshire.
Saturday 3 January – two men matching their descriptions are pictured in Ashley Road, Bristol, at about 10.35am. They are seen walking towards the Stokes Croft area.(Image: Avon and Somerset Police)
Washbourne is described as white, about 5ft 6ins, slim, with brown hair, clean shaven and has links to Herefordshire.
The spokesperson added: “Three men were initially reported to have absconded from the South Gloucestershire prison between 5-8pm on Thursday 1 January. CCTV shows the clothes Armstrong and Washbourne were wearing at the time, but we are conscious they may have changed clothes since.
CCTV image of Matthew Armstrong, 35, (front) and Daniel Washbourne, 40, (following)(Image: PA)
“Urgent actions were completed, including circulating the men as wanted via national police systems on New Year’s Day, out-of-force address checks, and intelligence work to trace the men’s potential movements.
“Efforts were also made through other forces to inform the victims and families of the absconders’ previous offences, to try to ensure they learned of the news as sensitively as possible from police.”
Aaron Thomas, aged 39, was arrested by Avon and Somerset Police in Bristol on the afternoon of Saturday 3 January and later charged with escaping lawful custody. Thomas appeared at Bristol Magistrates’ Court on January 5.
He was remanded in custody and will attend Bristol Crown Court next month.
A spokesperson for Avon and Somerset said: “We are grateful to everyone who has called us with information so far relating to Armstrong and Washbourne and their potential whereabouts. All information received is being recorded and reviewed.
“We would advise, as a precaution, anyone who sees either of them to not approach, but instead calls 999 quoting reference number 5226000700 . Alternatively, if you have information around the pair that may assist our enquiries, please call 101.”