Police hunt for prisoner after escape from London hospital

Police have launched a search for an escaped prisoner who absconded from a London hospital after being taken unwell from Wormwood Scrubs prison.

Scotland Yard is “working to find” Graham Gomm, 63, who is believed to have escaped from Hammersmith hospital in the early hours of Thursday morning.

Gomm had been on remand for burglary offences at the category B men’s prison in the west of the capital.

The Metropolitan police were alerted at 1.18am on Thursday that Gomm had absconded. He was last seen wearing a grey T-shirt and grey tracksuit, and is not believed to be a threat to the public.

“Detectives are also concerned for Gomm’s welfare as he was undergoing medical care before he escaped. There is nothing to suggest that Gomm is a threat to the public,” police said.

A Prison Service spokesperson said. “We are urgently working with the Metropolitan police to recapture this prisoner and investigating how he was able to escape from hospital.”

It is understood that police officers are carrying out searches, CCTV inquiries and have visited a number of addresses connected to Gomm. The public have been warned not to approach him but to call 999.