Prisoner Manhunt In Manchester
Greater Manchester Police is searching for a man that escaped from prison this morning in Aylesbury. John Rooney, aged 47, left HMP Springhill at 6.30am. CCTV in the area shows Rooney arriving at a bus station in Bicester, before entering a local Sainsburys and buying a pay as you go mobile phone. It is not known where he travelled to after leaving the store. Rooney is white, 5ft 8ins, slim, with brown hair. He has tattoos on his left arm, his left wrist, hand and fingers, as well as on his right hand. He also has letters tattooed on his right fingers and a scar on his right hand. He may also have other tattoos, particularly on his face, but these may not be visible. When he left the prison he was wearing a blue top, blue jeans and was carrying a bag. On 23 May 2003, Rooney was sentenced to 20 years in prison at York Crown Court for offences including robbery, burglary and use of a firearm. On 17 November 2003, Rooney was sentenced at Manchester Crown Court to a further four years in prison for robbery, kidnap and false imprisonment committed in the Manchester area, with 20 further offences of robbery and burglary also taken into consideration. There are grounds to believe Rooney may pose a risk of harm to the public. Chief Inspector Jim Troisi from Oldham police station said: “Greater Manchester Police are supporting an investigation to find Rooney and we are working closely with our colleagues in Thames Valley CID and the Force Intelligence Bureau so that we can locate him as soon as possible. “Whilst there is no intelligence at present to suggest that Rooney is in the Greater Manchester area, it is possible he may come back to the region due to links to Manchester, including family links in Oldham. “If any members of the public see Rooney, then I would ask them please do not approach him directly, but call 999 immediately. “And to anyone that may be reading this that knows Rooney and has any information on his current whereabouts, please call police on 101. “Alternatively, information can be passed to police anonymously by calling Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.”
Rooney is described as white, 5ft 8ins and of slim build, with brown hair and has known links to Manchester. He has tattoos on his left arm, his left wrist, hand and fingers, as well as on his right hand and letters on his right fingers, and a scar on his right hand.