A man made a dramatic escape from a magistrates court today by apparently climbing through a ceiling despite being in custody.
Police in Tameside launched an urgent manhunt for the 26-year-old this afternoon and he was arrested three hours later in Wilmslow. He had been taken to Tameside magistrates' court in custody having been charged with possession of a Class B drug and criminal damage.
He was arrested yesterday - Wednesday - and was making his first appearance in court. One police source told the Manchester Evening News he was brought to the court in custody, but managed to escape from a room he was being held in by climbing up through a ceiling.
He then exited the building through fire doors and escaped, it's understood. The Manchester Evening News understands the man has links to the Stockport area.
He is also thought to have been wearing a custody-issued grey tracksuit at the time. Police, however, confirmed he was arrested in the Wilmslow area at around 5.25pm today - Thursday.
Greater Manchester Police were initially alerted to a report that a 'prisoner had absconded' from the court at 2.25pm. In a statement, the force said: "At around 2.25pm on Thursday 14 July 2022, we received a report that a prisoner had absconded from Tameside Magistrates Court.
"An investigation was launched and, at around 5.25pm, a 26-year-old was arrested in the Wilmslow area." The man has not been named.
The source stressed the suspect was in the custody of the court at the time, not the police. He remained in custody tonight after his arrest. The Manchester Evening News has contacted the Ministry of Justice for comment.
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