Six convicted over plot to break prisoners out of Chelmsford Prison
Staff received an email made to look like it was from the Royal Courts of Justice.
Last updated 16th Sep 2025
Six people have been convicted for their parts in a conspiracy which aimed to release three people from lawful custody in Chelmsford Prison as a result of an extensive investigation.
Junead Ahmed was convicted of fraud in 2023 after admitting to posing as a doctor to rent a property he could not afford and buy a home worth more than £2 million.
In June of that year, the 36-year-old was awaiting sentence for those offences and was on remand at HMP Chelmsford.
On 21 June, the prison received an email which purported to be from the Royal Courts of Justice, stating that Ahmed was to be released on bail.
The order appeared to be genuine, with a number of identifying marks, and the process for release was begun. Later that day, Ahmed was released from prison custody.
A day later, the prison received two further emails from the same email address which also included apparent orders for the release of two other prisoners, Adam Mohammed and Charlie Whittaker.
A member of staff at the prison was suspicious of these orders and further checks were carried with the Royal Court of Justice and, the following day, it was confirmed there were no release orders made for the two men.
Checks on Ahmed, of Warley Road, Brentwood, were then made, identifying contact with his wife Nazash Akhtar, and Whittaker's mum, Charlotte Whittaker which raised suspicion.
On 23 June, Essex Police officers attended an address in Greenway, Shenfield, to arrest 41-year-old Akhtar.
When officers searched the home, they found Ahmed in the loft and he was arrested on suspicion of escaping from lawful custody.
Later in the day, 49-year-old Charlotte Whittaker was arrested at her home in Bemerton Gardens, Kirby Cross.
As the investigation progressed, officers were able to link Akhtar to a man known as ‘Azid’, who we were then able to identify as Aaryan Noor Ali as the man who created the fake orders and email address.
The 20-year-old, of Monteagle Avenue, Barking, was then arrested.
All six people were subsequently charged with being involved in a conspiracy to escape lawful custody.
Over the course of hearings on 9 and 10 September at Chelmsford Crown Court Ahmed, Charlotte Whittaker, Charlie Whittaker, Akhtar and Noor Ali admitted conspiracy to escaper lawful custody,
Adam Mohammed admitted admitting attempting to escape lawful custody.