Murderer remanded on prison escape charge after 18 months on the run

A convicted murderer displayed a dramatically different look as he appeared in court accused of escaping from prison.

Shaun Walmsley, 29, had shoulder-length brown hair and a full beard when he appeared at Liverpool Magistrates’ Court via video-link on Wednesday.

Walmsley, who had previously had a shaved head, was arrested by armed officers in the Harehills area of Leeds on Tuesday afternoon.

He had been on the run for 18 months after fleeing when two men armed with a knife and a gun confronted prison guards outside Aintree University Hospital during a visit from HMP Walton in Liverpool in February 2017.

No application for bail was made and he was remanded in custody by magistrates.

He will next appear at Liverpool Crown Court on September 19.

In a statement on Wednesday morning, Merseyside Police said: “Escaped prisoner Shaun Walmsley is back in custody following a proactive operation by officers from Merseyside Police and West Yorkshire Police earlier yesterday.

“Walmsley has been charged with escape from lawful custody and will appear at Liverpool and Knowsley Magistrates’ Court today.”

Walmsley was sentenced to life in June 2015 for his part in the murder of Anthony Duffy.

Mr Duffy, 33, was lured to an address in Aintree in May 2014 and “repeatedly stabbed”.

The money was seized following his arrest and conviction for the murder.

Detectives also worked with officers from the National Crime Agency and police forces in Europe to locate Walmsley.

Detective Chief Inspector Natalie Perischine, of Merseyside Police, said: “There was a pre-planned operation between Merseyside Police and West Yorkshire Police which yesterday resulted in the arrest of Shaun Walmsley around 3pm in the afternoon.

“He was arrested in the Leeds area, in addition to that, three others were arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender. Each have been released under investigation.

“He was one of the UK’s ‘Most Wanted’. I said at the time of his escape we were working with police forces and other agencies in the UK and beyond. It certainly was an international manhunt.

“The violent circumstances of the offence he committed that led him to get a sentence of life imprisonment with a 30-year tariff demonstrates how violent an individual he is.

“He brutally murdered Anthony Duffy in a horrific violent attack. He’s certainly an incredibly dangerous individual.

“I’m really grateful to the media and the public, we have had overwhelming support during the last 18 months.”

Ms Perischine said police were also committed to finding those involved in Walmsley’s escape, and appealed for information.

She added: “We won’t give up until we find them.

“I made a promise to Anthony Duffy’s family and the community, no matter how long it took we would not give up. Ultimately you can run but you can’t hide.”