Prisoner absconds while on visit to St John's Hospital

The unnamed man escaped Thursday lunchtime.

Published 4th Aug 2016

A prisoner has escaped from the custody of a private security firm in an incident which left two of its custody officers in hospital.

33 year old Anthony Ferrie was on a visit to St John's Hospital in Livingston when he escaped at Thursday lunchtime.

Security firm G4S said one of its crew members - known as prison custody officers - suffered an arm injury during the incident, while another was left unconscious.

Their injuries are not thought to be life-threatening.

Searches for the missing offender are currently being carried out.

Willie Galloway, the head of operations for G4S custody transport in Scotland, said: During a prisoner transport movement at approximately 1pm today, a prisoner escaped custody at St John's Hospital in Livingston.

Two members of our crew were injured during the incident which left one unconscious and the other with an injury to their arm.

While they both remain in hospital, their injuries do not at this stage appear to be life-threatening and we are supporting them and their families.

We are assisting Police Scotland's inquiry to recapture this prisoner and are working with the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) to understand the events leading up to this escape.''

An SPS spokeswoman said: We are aware that an individual has escaped from the custody of G4S while on a hospital escort and we are assisting Police Scotland to apprehend them.''