Woman held after Standford Hill open prison inmates absconded

Callaghan, left, is serving time for perverting the course of justice and Harkins was jailed for committing aggravated burglary

A woman has been arrested after two men absconded from Standford Hill open prison on the Isle of Sheppey in Kent.

On Saturday, police were informed Scott Callaghan, 35, and Billy Harkins, 29, walked out of the prison.

A woman, 34, from Essex, has been arrested "in connection with assisting an offender".

Callaghan is serving time for perverting the course of justice and Harkins was jailed for aggravated burglary.

Armed robber Michael Wheatley, nicknamed the "Skull Cracker", absconded from the same jail on 3 May.

He was jailed for life with a minimum of 10 years at Guildford Crown Court after raiding the Chelsea Building Society in Sunbury, Surrey.

Det Ch Insp Ann Lisseman said: "We are following a number of lines of enquiries to trace the pair and I would urge anyone who has information regarding their whereabouts to contact Kent Police immediately.

"The men are thought to have connections in Kent, London, Liverpool and Scotland.

'It is not thought that the men pose an immediate risk to the public, but I would never encourage a member of the public to approach any offender."