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.
