Detectives investigating prison escape of Shaun Walmsley have issued a £20,000 reward

Merseyside Detectives investigating the prison escape of Shaun Walmsley have issued a £20,000 reward, for information leading to his capture and being returned to prison.

The reward is made up of £20,000 of Walmsley’s own money, which was seized by officers following his arrest and conviction for the murder of Anthony Duffy.

Walmsley escaped from the custody of three prison guards at about 3.05pm on Tuesday, 21 February this year, following a medical appointment at Aintree University Hospital. As the prison officers and Walmsley were getting in to a car two other men, believed to be in possession of a gun and a knife, threatened the prison officers and demanded that they release him, before escaping in the gold coloured Volvo. None of the prison guards were physically injured during the incident.

Detective Superintendent Natalie Perischine, said: “We have had a really good response from members of the public around the country following our appeals, but we still need that crucial information about his present whereabouts. We have invested significant resources in trying to trace Walmsley to no avail, and we don’t think it is right that public money is being used in this way. Walmsley and those that released him, had put in a considerable amount of planning to execute his escape and it is only right that we use Walmsley’s own money to encourage people to tell us where he is.

“It’s a month since Shaun Walmsley escaped from prison custody at Aintree Hospital and we are as determined now, as we were then, to find him and put him back behind bars.”

Just 10 days ago detectives released a CCTV image that showed how Walmsley’s appearance had changed considerably since the original photograph which was released to the media when he was sentenced to life for the murder of Anthony Duffy in 2015. The image shows that Walmsley’s face is more gaunt in appearance and he has lost a considerable amount of weight.

Detective Superintendent Natalie Perischine, explained: “The new CCTV image, which was actually taken from hospital CCTV on the day of the escape, shows that Shaun Walmsley has lost a considerable amount of weight, and as a result looks very different to the image of him which was released after he was convicted of the murder of Anthony Duffy. Detectives are currently working with officers from the National Crime Agency and police forces in Europe and further afield to locate Walmsley and put him back behind bars.

She added: “I would like to reiterate that Shaun Walmsley, and the two others involved in the incident, are dangerous individuals and we will be relentless in our pursuit of them.

“We are determined to find Walmsley and put him back behind bars. And we are also committed to finding the offenders who helped him escape, or anyone who may be harbouring him, so that we can put them before the courts.”

Walmsley is described as: white, 6ft tall and of slim build with dark brown hair and blue eyes. He was last seen wearing dark bottoms and a dark jacket.

The first man, who was believed to be armed with a gun, is described as having his face covered and he was wearing white shoes, grey tracksuit bottoms with a stripe down each side, a grey hoody and a dark coat. The second man, who was believed to be armed with a knife, is described as having his face covered and he was wearing a green coat, dark Nike trainers and grey tracksuit bottoms.

The first man, who was believed to be armed with a gun, is described as having his face covered and he was wearing white shoes, grey tracksuit bottoms with a stripe down each side, a grey hoody and a dark coat. The second man, who was believed to be armed with a knife, is described as having his face covered and he was wearing a green coat, dark Nike trainers and grey tracksuit bottoms.

Detectives are advising the public not to approach Walmsley if they see him, as he could be in the company of the others who helped him escape and they are believed to be armed. Walmsley himself is also described as dangerous.

Officers would ask anyone who has seen Walmsley, knows where he is, or anyone who saw this car in the area, to contact the police on 999, or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.

As part of the ongoing bid to trace Walmsley, Detective Superintendent Natalie Perischine will be at Crimewatch tonight. During tonight’s programme CCTV of the escape will be featured https://youtu.