Kentish Express Ashford & District
Violent criminal still at large after flight from court
Review under way after two escapes in one week
A violent criminal with links to Ashford is still at large after ‘sheepishly’ strolling out of the front door of a court nine days ago.
Daniel McAvoy, who also goes by the name Daniel Murray, sparked a major police search when he walked out of Maidstone Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday September 22.
The 42-year-old was charged with beating up his girlfriend, but the court went into lockdown when security realised he had walked out of the front door.
Despite a full-scale search of the area, police admitted that McAvoy, who should be serving a four and a half year sentence for burglary and fraud, is still missing.
Just three days later, criminal Stephen Fry escaped from Maidstone Crown Court by jumping over the dock railings, leaping across desks and running down the corridor.
The 26-year-old from London then dramatically plunged into the River Medway to escape capture.
He was detained on the water’s edge after officers used a safety ring to pull him from the river.
A court official said it was a “robust attempt to abscond” but Fry was recaptured.
Now security firm GEOamey confirmed it is investigating how two prisoners escaped from custody in just a week.
A spokesman for the firm said: “We can confirm a male prisoner absconded from Maidstone Crown Court.
“He was re-captured immediately. We have begun an investigation into the circumstances surrounding this incident”.
He also confirmed the firm was investigating how McAvoy walked out of court, despite being handcuffed to one of the firm’s security guards.
McAvoy, who has previous convictions for at least 25 offences, is still at large.