Manhunt for convicted drug dealer on the run after Christmas Day jailbreak

Published 5 hours ago
Source: metro.co.uk
BEST QUALITY AVAILABLEUndated handout photo issued by Thames Valley Police of Mahad Elmi, 27, left the open jail in Buckinghamshire and is now unlawfully at large, Thames Valley Police said. The force said he absconded from HMP Springhill, near the village of Grendon Underwood, overnight from on Thursday into Boxing Day. Issue date: Saturday December 27, 2025. PA Photo. Photo credit should read: Thames Valley Police/PA Wire NOTE TO EDITORS: This handout photo may only be used in for editorial reporting purposes for the contemporaneous illustration of events, things or the people in the image or facts mentioned in the caption. Reuse of the picture may require further permission from the copyright holder.
Mahad Elmi, 27, escaped prison during the night between Christmas Day and Boxing Day (Picture: Thames Valley Police/PA Wire)

Police are hunting for a man convicted of drug dealing and robbery who escaped an open prison on Christmas Day.

Mahad Elmi, 27, left HMP Springhill near Grendon Underwood in Buckinghamshire some time overnight on Thursday, December 25, going into Friday morning.

Thames Valley Police is appealing for anyone who might have information on his whereabouts to get in touch.

They described Elmi as a black man, around 5ft 8ins tall, of medium build and with medium length black hair, a beard and brown eyes.

He is known to have links to South West London.

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Elmi was serving an eight year sentence for robbery and possession with intent to supply Class A and Class B drugs.

Detective sergeant Matthew French, of Buckinghamshire’s Priority Crime Team, said: ‘We are appealing for the help of the public to trace Mahad Elmi, who is unlawfully at large after leaving and not returning to HMP Springhill.

HMP Springhill
Elmi escaped from HMP Springhill (Picture: Harvey Hollingsbee)

‘If you see Elmi, do not approach him and call 999 instead.

‘If you have any information as to where Elmi may be, please call 101 or make a report online, quoting reference number 43250653119.’

HMP Springhill, which houses more than 300 inmates, is classed as Category D which, according to the Prison Service, means it has ‘minimal security and allow(s) eligible prisoners to spend most of their day away from the prison on licence to carry out work, education or for other resettlement purposes’.

Earlier in December a newly arrested prisonor attempted to flee police by diving over a wall but ended up with a broken back.

Dylan Harrison, 33, shouted ‘I’m not going back to jail’ as he bolted from a police van at Ystrad Mynach station in South Wales on September 25.

The father-to-be was arrested after being accused of committing domestic violence offences against a woman in Newport.

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