Convicted robber walks out of open jail

Police are hunting for a convicted robber who walked out of an open prison yesterday afternoon. 

Gary Rootham, 42, was serving sentences for a string of driving, robbery and burglary offences at HMP Leyhill in South Gloucestershire. 

He was last seen at around 4.50pm on Friday by prison staff. He was wearing a dark Nike polo shirt, dark jogging bottoms and black trainers with white soles. 

He is described as being about 5ft 11, with short dark brown hair and is usually clean shaven. 

Gary Rootham, pictured, absconded from HMP Leyhill in south Gloucestershire yesterday 

Adil Maxamed, 20, left, absconded from Springfield Hospital in south-west London last night. He was last seen entering Tooting Bec tube station 

He has links to Reading and Cornwall. 

A spokesperson for Avon and Somerset Police said: ‘If you see Rootham, please don’t approach, call 999 quoting 5224188647, or call 101 with other information.’ 

Hours after Rootham escaped custody, the Metropolitan Police issued an alert after three men absconded absconded from Springfield Hospital in south-west London. 

One of the three men are still missing after police detained one of the patients at 12.45am today at a residential address in south London. He was returned to the hospital. 

Ramon Martin, who was injured during the escape attempt, was detained earlier this afternoon.  

The men escaped the hospital at 10.10pm on Friday after they smashed their way through a glass door. 

Scotland Yard said the man they are looking for is Adil Maxamed, 20. 

He was being held at the hospital under the Mental Health Act. 

He was last seen at 10.35pm yesterday entering Tooting Bec station. He was spotted boarding a Northern Line train.  

A police spokesperson said: ‘The public are warned not to approach Maxamed. Anyone who may have seen either of them is asked to call 101, ref 8713/19Jul. For an immediate sighting, please dial 999.’