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A government minister has confirmed that a review will be conducted following the escape of three prisoners from an open prison on New Year’s Day. Alex Davies-Jones MP, a junior minister at the Ministry of Justice (MoJ), announced to Parliament that HMP Leyhill, located near Bristol in South Gloucestershire, will undergo scrutiny within the next 20 days. The escape triggered a police search after the inmates failed to return to the facility on January 1st.
Among the absconded prisoners was a convicted murderer, with one of the men, Aaron Thomas, 39, being apprehended in Bristol two days later. Thomas appeared in court on Monday, where he faced charges of escaping lawful custody and was remanded until his next hearing on February 9th. However, the other two escapees, Daniel Washbourne, 40, and Matthew Armstrong, 35, who has a history of violent offenses, remain at large. Authorities have warned the public not to approach them and to contact emergency services if spotted, given their connections to Warwickshire and Herefordshire.
Addressing inquiries from Robert Jenrick, the shadow justice secretary, Davies-Jones explained that there had been no prior intelligence suggesting the prisoners might abscond. She emphasized that all three individuals had been transferred to open conditions in 2025 following assessments recommended by the independent Parole Board. “Before making a recommendation the parole board conducts a thorough assessment of the offender’s risk of harm and risk of absconding,” Davies-Jones stated, noting that, at the time, the prisoners were deemed suitable for the less secure conditions.
The incident prompted criticism of the Ministry of Justice’s decisions, particularly concerning Matthew Armstrong, who has a record of violent behavior in custody, including leading a prison riot and attacking officers. Liberal Democrat spokesperson Jess Brown-Fuller questioned why someone with Armstrong’s history was approved for transfer to an open prison and whether issues like prison overcrowding influenced these decisions. Davies-Jones responded by assuring that transfers, especially for life sentence and Imprisonment for Public Protection (IPP) prisoners, are only made after rigorous risk assessments and on Parole Board recommendations. She also highlighted a downward trend in the number of absconds, citing a drop from 143 cases in the year ending March 2020 to 57 in the year ending March 2025
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