Merseyside Police has issued a stark warning message to escaped prisoner Shaun Walmsley: “We WILL find you.”

Walmsley, 28, originally of Wallace Street, Walton, escaped from the custody of prison guards outside Aintree University Hospital on the afternoon of Tuesday 21st February last year.



Detectives believe that following his escape Walmsley fled to the Cheetham Hill area of Manchester before escaping the country on false documentation.

During the past 12 months extensive work has been going on both in the UK and with colleagues at the National Crime Agency Fugitive Unit who are conducting enquiries abroad to locate him.

And officers have warned that anyone found to have associations with Walmsley can expect a visit from the police.

Chief Superintendent Natalie Perischine said: “Twelve months may have passed but we are still as determined to find Shaun Walmsley and return him to lawful custody.

“Investigation work has been ongoing since last February and a number of strong leads are currently being followed.

“Walmsley will have spent the past 12 months looking over his shoulder waiting for a knock on the door and we know it is only a matter of time before he is back behind bars where he belongs.

“We know that there are people out there who know where he is and that over time people’s allegiances change. I would appeal to those people – come forward and tell us where he is.

“Walmsley is a highly dangerous individual. He was convicted of the vicious and savage murder of 33-year-old Anthony Duffy in 2014 and was sentenced to life imprisonment in June 2015, with a 30-year tariff.

“Walmsley took the life of this young man in a frenzied attack and in doing so ruined the lives of Anthony’s family and friends. I would ask people - does this man deserve to have his freedom or does he deserve to be spending the foreseeable future in a prison cell?”

During the past 12 months detectives have made a number of significant arrests and seizures in connection with Walmsley and his escape from lawful custody.

The investigation team to date have recovered and seized an estimated £150,000 and 30,000 Euros in cash, drugs with the street value of around £900,000, 32 live rounds of ammunition and arrested 22 suspects for various offences including assisting an escaped offender, possession of section one firearm, possession with intent to supply Class A and B drugs, money laundering and perverting the course of justice.

A £20,000 reward for information leading to the capture and return to prison of Walmsley is also still available.

Chief Superintendent Perischine added: “Take a good look at Walmsley’s face. Have you seen him – or anyone who looks like him - in the past 12 months? Do you know where he may have been hiding or who has been helping him?

“To those people I would say do the right thing – come forward so that we can get justice for the family of Anthony Duffy and get this dangerous man off our streets.”

Walmsley is described as white, 6ft tall and of slim build with dark brown hair and blue eyes.

Officers would ask anyone who has seen Walmsley, knows where he is, or has any information to contact the police on 999, or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111. Information can also be passed onto the force via the social media desk @MerPolCC