Prisoner uses fellow inmate's name to flee jail

Police were today hunting a prisoner who walked out of jail after using another inmate's name.

James Whitlock, 25, left Edmunds Hill in Stradishall, Suffolk, yesterday morning after applying for a licence for temporary release using another prisoner's name.

The alarm was raised yesterday but Whitlock, who was serving a sentence for theft, was still on the run today, Suffolk Police said.

An investigation was also under way at the jail, the Prison Service said.

A spokesman said: "We can confirm that a prisoner from HMP Edmunds Hill left the prison without authorisation yesterday after claiming a licence for temporary release in another prisoner's name.

"An investigation has been launched at the prison and this matter is now in the hands of the police."

A police spokeswoman said today that they were still looking for Whitlock, who has connections to Walton-on-the-Naze, Great Dunmow, Frinton on Sea, Kirby Cross and Chingford in the Essex area, and to Maidenhead in Berkshire.

He is described as white and of slight build, with brown hair.

He was last seen wearing a blue and white short-sleeved top and blue jeans.