Inmate escapes from police on Bristol motorway during prison transfer

A large-scale manhunt is underway after a prisoner managed to escape from police while being transferred to another jail.

Phillip Barrett made a break for it while being driven along the M32 motorway in Bristol on February 21.

The 37-year-old was being transported from HMP Bristol to another facility when he managed to flee.

Detective chief inspector Ed Yaxley, from Avon and Somerset Police, said they had deployed every available resource to track Barrett down.

The force has also offered a £1,000 reward for any information leading to the prisoner’s capture.

Barrett is described as white, 6ft 1ins tall, of large build, with short brown hair and brown eyes.

He has a mole on the right hand side of his face and several tattoos, including one of the word “Hollie” on his wedding ring finger and “BS4” on his right wrist.

Barrett, who has links to south Bristol, may also be walking with a limp.

DCI Yaxley added: “While Barrett is not thought to be a risk to the general public, we’d advise people not to approach him directly.”

Anyone who sees him is asked call 999 providing the call handler with the reference 5219038857. Anyone with information about where he might be is asked to call 101 quoting the same reference.