Man escapes jail clinging to bottom of prison van

A convicted arsonist is on the run after escaping from prison minutes after his arrival by clinging to the bottom of the security van. Julien Christopher Chautard, 39, absconded from Pentonville prison in north London soon after arriving there on Friday.

Earlier in the day he was sentenced to seven years in prison at Snaresbrook Crown Court. Chautard was convicted of one count of arson - being reckless as to whether life was endangered -and one count of arson.

He was given, respectively, seven-year and 12-month prison terms, to run concurrently. According to the Metropolitan Police, Chautard was then transferred to HMP Pentonville.



"He is thought to have escaped shortly after arriving at the prison at approximately 7pm," a spokesman said.

Prison officials could face disciplinary action after it emerged Chautard had managed to secrete himself beneath the security van which brought him to the jail. Warders failed to realise his escaped method for seven hours and wasted time searching the prison. But when officers studied the CCTV then noticed a shadow under the prison van as it was leaving.

The Ministry of Justice said in a statement: "On March 27, prisoner Julien Christopher Chautard escaped from custody while being processed on arrival at HMP Pentonville. "The circumstances around the escape will be fully investigated. This is now a matter for the police."