A convicted murderer and another prisoner who absconded from HMP Leyhill in South Gloucestershire on New Year's Day have been arrested, police have confirmed. Matthew Armstrong, 35, and Daniel Washbourne, 40, left the prison between 5pm and 8pm on 1 January.
Armstrong, who was convicted of murder during a robbery in Warwickshire in 2009, was arrested by Warwickshire Police near Henley-in-Arden train station just before midday on Wednesday. A member of the public reported seeing him, and he is now in police custody. He has also been arrested on suspicion of robbery in connection with an incident in a village near Leyhill on 31 December, where a man forced his way into a home, threatened occupants, and stole a mobile phone and cash.
Washbourne, who has previous convictions for violence and false imprisonment, was arrested in Bristol city centre at about 1.30am on Wednesday. He was taken to hospital with pre-existing injuries before being taken into custody. A third man, Aaron Thomas, 39, was arrested in Bristol on 3 January and charged with escaping lawful custody. He appeared before magistrates on 5 January and is due at Bristol Crown Court in February.
