A dangerous prisoner who escaped from a jail in the North West has been recaptured by police after a two-day manhunt.
Escape and Arrest
Kieran Cameron, 43, walked out of HMP Thorn Cross in Warrington on January 6. He was serving a substantial 23-year prison sentence for a vicious attempted murder in Dorset back in 2016. Following his disappearance, Cheshire Police launched a public appeal, urging people not to approach him due to the potential risk he posed.
The search concluded on the evening of January 8. Officers from the Cheshire Police Serious and Organised Crime unit located and arrested Cameron in the Hulme area of Greater Manchester. A police statement confirmed the arrest, bringing relief to the operation.
Violent Past and Original Crime
Cameron's lengthy sentence stems from a premeditated and brutal attack in February 2016. He and another man, Michael O’Rourke, stabbed a 22-year-old man from Poole approximately ten times. The court heard that the pair, who were under threat from a rival gang, sought to kill their victim to frame their rivals for the murder.
The victim sustained life-threatening injuries, suffering stab wounds to his stomach, neck, and the back of his head. Quick intervention from members of the public and medical staff at Poole Hospital were credited with saving his life.
Police Response and Sentencing
At the time of the original conviction, Detective Sergeant Jamie Halford of Bournemouth CID expressed satisfaction with the court's sentence. He strongly condemned the violent, knife-related crime, stating it showed police and courts would come down heavily on such vicious, pre-planned attacks.
The arrest of Cameron after his brief period unlawfully at large underscores ongoing efforts by police to apprehend escaped inmates and ensure they serve their full sentences. The incident will likely prompt a review of security procedures at HMP Thorn Cross.
