A prisoner has been formally charged after escaping from a jail on New Year's Day, while a man convicted of murder and another inmate remain on the run, police have confirmed.
One Recaptured, Two Still Wanted
Aaron Thomas, aged 39, is back behind bars following his arrest in Bristol on Saturday, 3 January 2026. He is scheduled to appear at Bristol Magistrates' Court on Monday, facing a charge of escaping lawful custody.
However, detectives from Avon and Somerset Police are continuing a nationwide manhunt for the two other men who fled with him. Matthew Armstrong, 35, and Daniel Washbourne, 40, are still at large. The trio are believed to have absconded from HMP Leyhill in South Gloucestershire between 5pm and 8pm on Thursday, 1 January.
Dangerous Convictions of Fugitives
Authorities have emphasised the potential danger posed by the two missing men. Matthew Armstrong was convicted of murder following a robbery in Warwickshire back in 2009.
Daniel Washbourne has previous convictions for serious offences, including false imprisonment and violence against a person. The police force released CCTV footage showing the pair walking casually through a building with their hands in their pockets, appealing for the public's help to trace them.
"The pair are not originally from Avon and Somerset and have links to various parts of the country," a police statement said on Saturday evening.
Public Appeal and Description
Officers have issued detailed descriptions of the fugitives. Matthew Armstrong is described as a white man, approximately 5 feet 9 inches tall, with ginger hair and scars on his forehead. He was last seen wearing a burgundy or orange coat, a grey cap, grey tracksuit bottoms with blue side panels, and black boots. He has known links to Warwickshire.
Daniel Washbourne is described as a white male, around 5 feet 6 inches tall, with brown hair and clean-shaven. He was last seen in a cream fleece, blue tracksuit bottoms, a blue hat, and black trainers. He has known connections to Herefordshire.
HMP Leyhill reported the three men missing on Thursday evening, with officers arriving at the prison just before 10pm to launch the investigation. "Urgent actions have already been completed, including circulating the men as wanted via national police systems," Avon and Somerset Constabulary stated.
Serious Consequences for Escape
Members of the public who spot either Armstrong or Washbourne are urged not to approach them but to call 999 immediately, quoting reference number 5226000700.
A Prison Service spokesperson reiterated the gravity of the crime, stating: "Absconding is a serious criminal offence, and any prisoner who commits this crime could face longer behind bars." The search and intelligence work to trace the men's movements continues.
