Man held in Calais charged with escaping open prison 22 years ago
Michael John Ashworth is due to appear in court after being arrested as he attempted to board a Eurotunnel train in France.
Monday 21 August 2017 16:33, UK
A man accused of absconding from an open prison 22 years ago has been arrested at the Eurotunnel site in Calais, France.
Michael John Ashworth, 57, was detained by Kent Police officers as he tried to board a train heading to Britain early on Sunday.
He has been charged with escaping from lawful custody after allegedly absconding from HMP Sudbury, an open prison in Derbyshire, in 1995.
At the time, Ashcroft, of no fixed address, had 18 months left to serve when he failed to return to the prison after being released on a temporary licence.
He is being held in custody and was due to appear before Medway Magistrates' Court on Monday.
In 2014, four criminals absconded from Category D prison HMP Sudbury within five days.
It sparked calls for a rethink of low-security jails amid a spate of inmates going on the run.