Identity switch twin flees court

Published by You on 11 July, 2009 - 21:31

Police are searching for a man who escaped from custody after switching identities with his twin brother.

Simon MacLellan, 27, from Gosport, has not been seen since Friday afternoon when he was released by magistrates.

MacLellan was on remand at HMP Winchester in connection with a serious assault. His twin, Mark, is also on remand for a less serious offence.

Hampshire Police said a 27-year-old man had been arrested in connection with aiding and abetting an escape.

Mark MacLellan was due to appear at Fareham Magistrates' Court.

It is thought the pair - who are non-identical twins - switched identities in prison and the wrong brother was taken to court.

The mistake was spotted by prison officials shortly after 2100 BST on Friday...

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Submitted by You on 12 July, 2009 - 03:21

'Identity switch escape' man held

Police have arrested a man in Hampshire after a remand prisoner walked out of a court allegedly by switching identities with his twin brother.

Simon Maclellan, 27, from Gosport, was on remand at HMP Winchester but went missing on Friday afternoon when he was released by magistrates.

It is thought he was mistaken for his twin brother Mark who was on remand for a lesser offence.

Hampshire Police confirmed a man was arrested in Fareham on Saturday.

'Internal investigation'

Police on Friday arrested another 27-year-old man on suspicion of aiding and abetting an escape.

Detectives said Mark Maclellan had been due to appear at Fareham Magistrates' Court.

The pair are not identical twins but the mistake was not spotted by prison officials until shortly after 2100 BST on Friday.

A statement released by the Ministry of Justice said: "A prisoner from HMP Winchester was mistakenly released instead of his brother.

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"For too long, we have been a passively tolerant society, saying to our citizens 'as long as you obey the law, we will leave you alone'" - David Cameron, UK Prime Minister. 13 May 2015.

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