Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

‘Come and get me’: Prisoner at centre of massive manhunt mocks police in online video

Cody Lowndes has been on run for a week after escaping custody while on hospital visit

Colin Drury
Friday 17 July 2020 13:49 BST
Prisoner at centre of a huge manhunt after escaping from prison taunts police in Instagram video

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

An escaped prisoner at the centre of a major manhunt has mocked police in a video posted to Instagram in which he tells officers: “Come and get me”.

Cody Lowndes has been on the run almost a week after scarpering during a hospital visit.

Now, as Greater Manchester Police continue to search for the 21-year-old — who was in custody accused of burglary, theft, criminal damage and possessing a bladed article, he has appeared brazenly in the online clip.

In it, he is seen eating sweets while offering a concise message to those hunting for him. “F**k the police,” he says, adding moments later: “F**k them.”

The video — taken in what seems to be a living room — then pans to some apparently broken handcuffs on a coffee table.

“Oh dear,” the person behind the camera is heard saying. “What’s happened to them?”

“Snapped ‘em off,” Lowndes replies. He is a man, it seems, of few words.

“Got a message for that copper?” his friend asks.

“Come and get me the third time,” comes the response.

Police say they are unsure what the reference to a third time means.

Lowndes, from Tameside, in Greater Manchester, was due to appear in court on Saturday, but said he felt unwell and was taken to Tameside General Hospital under guard.

He managed to escape while there, sparking the manhunt which has since seen Reddish Vale Country Park scoured and the Hyde Hall Farm hiking area in Denton searched.

As of early Friday afternoon, he remained on the loose.

Officers have urged anybody with information to call police immediately on 0161 856 5889 or 101, quoting incident number 963 of 12 July.

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in