Who is escaped prisoner Jamie Cooper and how did he flee in Lancashire? | Manchester News

A manhunt is under way for a prisoner who ran away from a prison van which had pulled over on a motorway after he faked a medical emergency.

Jamie Cooper absconded in Lancashire and a huge search is taking place to try find him.

Here is what we know so far.

Jamie Cooper was being escorted to Lancaster Magistrates’ Court in a GEOAmey-owned prison van when he fought his way free at about 08:50 GMT on Wednesday, Lancashire Police said.

A spokesperson for GEOAmey said the prisoner had managed to “overpower” officers after faking an “on-board medical emergency”.

The van was forced to pull over to deal with the situation.

This happened at Junction 2 of the M55 near Catforth, Preston.

“The detained person involved in this emergency then overpowered and evaded the escort officers and escaped from the vehicle,” they said.

“Lancashire Police have been informed and are currently searching for the escaped prisoner.”

Jamie Cooper is 33 years old and originally from Blackpool.

Lancashire Police said he also had links to Bolton in Greater Manchester.

He is about 5ft 7in tall (1.7m) and has a medium build with short, cropped hair.

At the time he escaped he was wearing a blue coat, blue jeans and black trainers.

Mr Cooper was due to appear before magistrates in Lancaster to face charges of assaulting a police officer and criminal damage.

Lancashire Police said the force wanted to reassure people who may find it “concerning” to hear about a prisoner escaping custody.

“Incidents like these are extremely rare in Lancashire and it is something we are taking incredibly seriously,” a spokesperson said.

Detectives said searches were ongoing as an investigation continued into what had happened.

Members of the public would see “an increase in our officers in the area”, the force said.

Anyone with information about Mr Cooper’s whereabouts is urged to come forward.

In September 2023, Daniel Khalife escaped from Wandsworth Prison in London by clinging to the underside of a delivery vehicle.

The former soldier, then 21, had four days on the run as a nationwide manhunt ensued.

He was eventually pulled off a bicycle on a towpath in Northolt by a plain-clothed officer and arrested.

Police had offered a reward of up to £20,000 for information leading to his arrest and had received more than 100 calls from people offering information.

Khalife was detained about 14 miles from the prison.

Last month, he was jailed for 14 years and three months after escaping while awaiting trial for spying for Iran.

In October 2024, another prisoner went on the run after escaping from a hospital in Greater Manchester.

People were urged not to approach Jonathan Windsor, 31, who “escaped lawful custody while being escorted by prison staff”.

Greater Manchester Police said he was found in Stockport in the early hours of the following day.