Robber and drug dealer flee UK prison as public warned do not approach them

08 December 2023 , 08:12

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Escapee Benjamin Pownall has convictions for robbery as well as weapons and driving offences (Image: Derbyshire Police)

Members of the public have been warned not to approach two convicted criminals who have escaped jail.

Benjamin Pownall and Jack Humphries fled HMP Sudbury in Derbyshire after being seen getting in a car and leaving. Both men have convictions for serious offences and are thought to be heading to Stoke in Staffordshire where they are both from.

Pownall, 27, is currently serving four years and four months after being convicted of robbery, weapons and driving offences. His escape counterpart Humphries meanwhile is serving more than seven years for drug dealing offences.

The 28-year-old was arrested in June 2021 after Staffordshire Police raided an address in the city, StokeonTrent Live reported, uncovering £1,300 worth of cocaine, cannabis plants, two phones and a set of weighing scales. While he was under investigation for that offence, the father-of-two, of Shelburne Street, Stoke, was again caught with cocaine and criminal property at another address in the city in March.

Humphries' grinning mughsot (Derbyshire Police)

The public have been warned not to approach the 28-year-old (Derbyshire Police)

A total of 13.83 grams of cocaine was found concealed inside the kitchen hob extractor fan. And more than £450 in cash, a machete, phone, deal bags and digital scales were also seized from the address. Dad Humphries pleaded guilty to possession of cocaine with intent to supply, possession of cannabis, and possession of cannabis with intent to supply on two separate occasions.

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A spokesperson for Derbyshire Constabulary said: "Benjamin Pownall and Jack Humphries left the open prison at around 5.15pm (on 6 December) and got into a vehicle which is believed to have travelled into Staffordshire. Pownall, 27, was serving four-year four-month jail sentence for robbery, weapons and driving offences.

"Humphries, 28, meanwhile had been jailed for seven-years and two -months for drug offences. Both have links to the Stoke area and the public are advised not to approach them. Instead anyone who has information about their whereabouts is asked to contact Derbyshire Police using any of the below methods, including reference 23*751340."

Susie Beever