New CCTV released in hunt for absconded murderer

CCTV images appearing to show a murderer walking city streets days after he absconded from prison has been released as the search to find him continues.

Three men failed to return to HMP Leyhill, South Gloucestershire, on New Years’ Day, with the new images showing Daniel Washbourne, 40, and convicted murderer Matthew Armstrong, 35 in Bristol on 3 and 4 January.

Aaron Thomas, 39, was arrested on Thursday after voluntarily handing himself into police, and appeared in court on Monday.

Avon and Somerset Police said there had been a “number of reported sightings” of the men but there was a “distinct possibility” they had travelled out of the area.

One image released by Avon and Somerset Police shows Armstrong and Washbourne on Ashley Road, Bristol, at about 10.35 GMT on Saturday, heading towards the Stokes Croft area of the city.

A second CCTV image shows a man walking along Filton Road and then Gloucester Road North in Filton, stopping at one stage to look at bus timetables at around 09:45 on Sunday.

Police said the man was wearing a burgundy coat that matched the one worn by Armstrong when he left HMP Leyhill, and he appears to have continued walking along the same road, having been seen in the Patchway area between 11:05-11:15.