Prisoner charged with escaping from jail van while on way to court
Jamie Cooper fled after overpowering guards on the M55 on Wednesday
A man who escaped from a prison van while on his way to court has since been charged with fleeing from custody.
Jamie Cooper, 33, was seen running away from a prison van on Wednesday (March 19th) on the M55 near Preston as he was being transported to Lancaster Magistrates' Court.
He had initially been arrested and charged on violence offences, and had been travelling in a GEOAmey vehicle when the incident occurred.
During the incident, it is reported that Cooper had feigned illness in the van, before overpowering guards and making his way along the side of the road.
The incident, which took place before 9am on Wednesday, prompted Lancashire Police to launch a nationwide manhunt.
Cooper was seen several times in places including Bolton, Lancaster and Blackpool, before he was re-arrested in Blackburn on Saturday (March 22nd).
Lancashire Police confirmed that Cooper had been apprehended when a car carrying the man that had been travelling from Bolton was stopped in Blackburn.
The force added that Jamie was remanded into police custody on Sunday (March 23rd), to appear before Blackburn Magistrates' Court on Monday (March 24th).
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