Police are urgently searching for two escaped prisoners, one of whom is a convicted murderer, following a New Year's Day breakout from a South Gloucestershire jail. A third inmate has been recaptured and charged.
One Recaptured, Two Remain on the Run
Aaron Thomas, 39, is back in custody after being arrested in Bristol on Saturday, 3 January 2026. He is scheduled to appear before Bristol Magistrates' Court on Monday, charged with escaping lawful custody.
However, the manhunt continues for his two alleged accomplices: Matthew Armstrong, 35, and Daniel Washbourne, 40. The trio are believed to have absconded from HMP Leyhill, an open prison in South Gloucestershire, between 5pm and 8pm on Thursday, 1 January.
Dangerous Histories of the Fugitives
Avon and Somerset Police have warned the public about the significant risks posed by the two men still at large. Matthew Armstrong was convicted in 2009 for murder during a robbery in Warwickshire.
Daniel Washbourne has previous convictions for violent offences and false imprisonment. The force has released CCTV footage showing the pair walking through a building with their hands in their pockets, appealing for information on their whereabouts.
Nationwide Manhunt and Public Warning
The prison reported the men missing on Thursday evening, with officers launching an investigation from the site at around 9.45pm. National alerts have been circulated across all police systems.
Detectives say the pair have links to various parts of the country and are not originally from the Avon and Somerset area. Armstrong is known to have connections to Warwickshire, while Washbourne has links to Herefordshire.
Police have issued a stern warning to the public not to approach either man if seen. Instead, anyone with information should immediately call 999, quoting reference number 5226000700.
Descriptions of the Wanted Men
Matthew Armstrong is described as a white male, approximately 5ft 9in tall, with ginger hair and scars on his forehead. He was last seen wearing a burgundy or orange coat, a grey cap, grey tracksuit bottoms with blue on the side, and black boots.
Daniel Washbourne is described as a white male, around 5ft 6in tall, with brown hair and clean-shaven. He was last seen in a cream fleece, blue tracksuit bottoms, a blue hat, and black trainers.
A Prison Service spokesperson stated: "Absconding is a serious criminal offence, and any prisoner who commits this crime could face longer behind bars." The search operation, involving urgent intelligence work to trace the men's movements, remains ongoing.
