Escaped prisoner appeal to feature on Crimewatch
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An appeal to trace escaped prisoner John Anslow, from Tipton, is set to feature on Crimewatch tonight, Thursday 26 January.
The 31-year-old escaped from a prison escort van near HMP Hewell Grange, near Bromsgrove, at around 8.20am on Monday, 23 January.
Anslow, who is from the Tipton area, was charged last week with the murder of Richard Deakin in Chasetown, Staffordshire, in July 2010. Four other men have also been charged with murder.
Staffordshire Police are offering a £10,000 reward for information that leads to Anslow's arrest and return to prison.
Detective Superintendent Martin Evans, who is overseeing the inquiry for Staffordshire Police, said: "Our appeal to trace Anslow has spread far and wide.
"We've reached over two million people on Facebook and are continuing to liaise with other forces and agencies nationwide.
"Our dedicated team of detectives are working closely with colleagues at West Midlands and West Mercia police forces as we continue to follow numerous lines of inquiry.
"We're hoping that tonight's Crimewatch appeal will prompt further people to come forward with information.
"We want to speak to anyone who knows where Anslow might be. There's obviously a possibility that he's travelled abroad or may be planning to do so. If this is the case, there will be people who know about it and we want to speak to them.
"The offer of a £10,000 reward is a good incentive for people to pick up the phone. All calls will be treated in the strictest confidence.
"The offenders used a silver VW Scirocco - registration BT59 NXC - before switching to a silver Mercedes, which may have been a C-Class model, with the partial registration KR11.
"We need to talk to anybody who saw these vehicles on Monday or who has seen the Mercedes since.
"Anyone with information should ring our dedicated incident room on 01785 235051. Alternatively, they can call the independent charity Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111."
Three men who were wearing balaclavas, two of whom were carrying sledgehammers, smashed the windscreen and driver's window of the GEO Amey prison escort van on Monday morning.
A 44-year-old man was arrested on Monday evening on suspicion of assisting an offender. He has been released on police bail pending further inquiries.
Anyone who sees Anslow, who is considered to be very dangerous, should not approach him but should dial 999 immediately.
Crimewatch is on BBC One at 9pm.
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