One of the escapees from HMP Pentonville jailbreak sentenced to life for stabbing

One of the men who escaped HMP Pentonville prison by using diamond-tipped cutting equipment and mannequins to fool the guards has been jailed for attempted murder.

Mathew Baker, 28, was awaiting sentencing when he escaped from the north London prison in November before being found two days later.

Following a trial at Snaresbrook Crown Court, he was found guilty of stabbing a 23-year-old man 30 times at a flat in Dagenham on 21 March 2015.

Baker, and a second woman in the flat, at the time claimed the victim received the life-threatening injuries after a group of unknown men forced their way inside the property. However, officers inspected the premises and found no evidence to support their story.

Baker was eventually arrested and charged with attempted murder and now has been sentenced to life with a minimum term of 20 years in jail.

Detective Sergeant Martin O'Donnell, of Barking and Dagenham CID, said: "It has never been fully established why Baker carried out such a vicious attack but what is clear is that this violent assault very nearly ended in the death of a man. It is only thanks to the skills of medical staff at the Royal London Hospital that the victim survived.

"This has been a protracted and challenging investigation for police but I am glad that justice has finally been served and Baker will spend a considerable amount of time behind bars.

"He has been classed as a dangerous offender and will not be released until he proves he is no longer a risk."

His fellow Pentonville escapee, James Whitlock, was found on 13 November. He was on remand at the time of the escape and charged with conspiracy to burgle in relation to 19 offences of theft from ATMs between December 2015 and August 2016.