Fugitive taunts police on Facebook

A prisoner on the run from an open jail was taunting police over the festive period by posting Christmas messages on a social networking site.

Craig Lynch, 28, who absconded from Hollesley Bay Prison, near Woodbridge in Suffolk, in September, is giving detectives details of his life on Facebook.

On Christmas Day, the fugitive posted a note saying: "Wow it really is xmas ha ha i cant beleive i made it f*** tha police."

Earlier in the day he made a reference to hearing sirens and believing the game was finally up. However, it emerged the noise came from an ambulance helping an elderly woman across the street from his hideout.

Yesterday, he wrote: "Good mornin everyone. I had a funny feelin that my door was going to come off this mornin then i remembered. The old bill are thick as s***. And went back to sleep."

Craig "Lazie" Lynch has developed a following of more than 3,400 people across the globe. Some of them encouraged his escape and others have belittled him.

He has also set up a private profile to escape the comments of some angry internet users.

Police said Lynch had been given a seven-year jail term after being convicted of aggravated burglary.

Officers said they were sure that the Craig Lynch featured on the Facebook page was the escaped prisoner.

The page features a photograph of Lynch, who police said had links to Edgware, Middlesex, looking at the camera and holding up a finger.