Officers given more time to quiz suspect

STAFFORDSHIRE Police have been given an extension on the time they have to interview the man arrested in connection with the disappearance of escaped prisoner John Anslow.

The 44-year-old was arrested in Tipton on Monday night on suspicion of assisting an offender and officers have this afternoon (Wednesday) been given an extra 12 hours to quiz him about the ambush.

Anslow was sprung after the prison van he was in was stopped by three masked men in Hewell Lane, Tardebigge, at around 8.20am on Monday.

Yesterday (Tuesday), police revealed they had recovered the silver Volkswagen Scirocco - registration number BT59 NXC - the gang used to make their getaway in.

It was abandoned a short distance from the scene before they switched to a silver Mercedes with the partial registration number KR11 in Stoney Lane in Bromsgrove.

Officers also revealed yesterday that a £10,000 reward was being offered for information which helped capture the escaped prisoner.

Anslow, charged with the murder of Richard Deakin who was shot dead in Chasetown Staffordshire last year, has connections across the country as well as abroad and may have already left the country. Airports and trains stations are on high alert while the UK Border Agency has already been informed as well as authorities overseas.

Anyone with any information can contact the police by calling 101.

Officers have reminded the public Anslow is considered dangerous and should not be approached. Anyone who finds him should call 999.