Pictured: ‘Armed’ prisoner, 56, who ‘threatened feminine physician with a makeshift blade and compelled her to drive him to a money machine after escaping from an open jail’ is charged with kidnap

An alleged armed inmate has been charged with kidnap after fleeing from an open prison before using a bladed weapon to force a woman to drive him to a cash point. 

Jamie Herbert, 56, has been charged with escape from lawful custody, possession of a bladed article, kidnap, and two counts of attempted robbery. 

The prisoner is alleged to have escaped Standford Hill open prison on the Isle of Sheppy before making his way to car park nearby Swaleside prison on January 28. 

He is alleged to have then approached a medical professional and ordered her to drive him to the Willington Street area of Maidstone, Kent at around 9.25am that day. 

Herbert then allegedly demanded the woman withdraw cash before fleeing the scene and attempting a second robbery.  

Jamie Herbert, 56, has been charged with escape from lawful custody, possession of a bladed article, kidnap, and two counts of attempted robbery

Herbert allegedly escaped from Standford Hill open prison (pictured) 

A Kent Police spokesperson said: ‘It was reported that at around 9.25am on Tuesday 28 January a man made a woman drive with him to the Willington Street area of Maidstone and made threats to her to withdraw money from before he then left the scene.

‘Officers attended and a man suspected to have absconded from prison was arrested at 10.02am. 

‘He was detained at a nearby location where he was alleged to have attempted a second robbery.’

He appeared before Medway Magistrates’ Court and was remanded in custody on January 29. 

Herbert is due to appear at Maidstone Crown Court on Monday, February 24. 

A Ministry of Justice spokesperson previously said:  ‘This prisoner is back behind bars and police are investigating.’