A dangerous prisoner who escaped when masked bandits ambushed his security van at gunpoint in Feltham has been jailed for five-and-a-half years.

Wayne Joseph Connor, 20, fled after two men wearing balaclavas smashed the window of the Serco prison van close to the Clockhouse roundabout and threatened the driver with a shotgun on January 12.

Hounslow police joined forces with specialist units from the Metropolitan Police to launch a nationwide manhunt, tracking Connor down and arresting him at a hotel in Nottinghamshire four days later.

Detective Sergeant Christopher Langwade, who led the case for Hounslow police, said they were “very proud” to have found him so quickly.

He said: “A lot of gratuitous violence was used on the day, using a gun and smashing the window.

“Think of the terror for the driver and the guard, it must have been terrifying to have someone pointing a gun to your face. Knowing you transport criminals for a living and there is a risk associated with such an occupation, this is your worst nightmare, it’s the worst that can happen.

“At a local level we are extremely happy with the support we were given by our most senior officers in the Metropolitan Police.

“They acknowledged the significance of catching this man and gave us the support we needed, which enabled us to get hold of him quickly.

“It was for us to get him back with the help of others, and we are extremely happy that we worked together to capture a dangerous criminal.”

Connor was being transported via Feltham Young Offenders' Institute to Woolwich Crown Court when the six-cell van was raided at 7.30am.

A dark blue car forced the van to pull over before two masked men jumped out and smashed the driver’s side window.

They threatened the driver and guard with a shotgun and demanded Connor be released. All three men then escaped in the car.

Connor and his 21-year-old brother Jason McInerney, who had broken free from the dock at Reading Crown Court during a wedding shooting trial last year, were jailed at Woolwich Crown Court on Thursday, April 2. McInerney was sentenced to six-and-a-half years behind bars.

They both pleaded guilty to escaping lawful custody, along with two counts of causing actual bodily harm and three counts of burglary.