Murderer escapes in a gold-coloured Volvo after gun-wielding pair threaten guards taking him back to prison in a MINI-CAB from his hospital visit

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Shaun Walmsley, 28, has fled the Aintree University Hospital in Liverpool, sparking a major operation to find him by Merseyside Police

The car used to help a convicted murderer escape while on a hospital visit from prison has been recovered.

Shaun Walmsley, 28, fled the Aintree University Hospital in Liverpool on Tuesday, sparking a major operation to find him by Merseyside Police.

The escape car used by the accomplices has now been discovered.

Merseyside Police believe the gold-coloured Volvo – number plate MW02 XHE – was parked in Fazakerley, Liverpool, from 12pm yesterday with at least one man inside.

It was then seen travelling to Aintree University Hospital, where it was spotted parked from 1.25pm onwards.

Police said after the car was used in the getaway it was discovered back in Adlam Crescent at 8pm last night and has already been towed away for forensic examinations.  

Two men, carrying a gun, knife and pepper spray, reportedly jumped out and held up guards so the murderer could escape in the gold-coloured Volvo. 

Mayor of Liverpool Joe Anderson said he would calling for an immediate inquiry and writing to the Home Secretary Amber Rudd

Mark Fairhurst, Prison Officers' Association National Executive spokesperson, said: 'Walmsley was transported in a private hire taxi. That is regular protocol in most prisons, unless the prisoner is a Category A prisoner in which case they would go with two armed police officers in a van.

'Walmsley was returning to the taxi after the appointment when he and the two officers were approached by two males.

'One put a gun to an officer's head and the other put a knife to the other officer's throat and they released the cuffs.

'It is a life-threatening situation and they have to do what they can to save their life.

'At the end of the day, they only have an extendable baton and a white prison shirt.

'We have asked for more equipment because we don't have things like stab vests like police do as a deterrent but they have been turned down.

'‎Even as a visual deterrent, if we looked more like the police do it would be useful to stop events like this from happening.' 

WHO WAS ANTHONY DUFFY? 

Anthony Duffy was stabbed 28 times in Aintree

Anthony Duffy was 33 when he was killed by Walmsley and three others in Aintree, Liverpool. He was stabbed 28 times and later died in hospital.

Mr Duffy was a cocaine and cannabis dealer who was said to have crossed Walmsley's path when he tried to steal his £60,000 crop because he was annoyed about debts pressure they were putting on his cousin.

He is said to have enlisted John Hore to help with the burglary but he was betrayed to his killers by the career criminal. 

An obituary in the Liverpool paper said he was partner to Stacey and father to three girls, Heidi, Daisy and Faith. 

His surviving family was praised for acting with dignity throughout the trial. 

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A source told The Sun: 'The cab was just leaving the hospital site when it happened.

'The officers involved are hugely shaken up.

'There will be serious questions to answer about why a convicted murderer was travelling in a minicab in the first place, especially so soon after his conviction.'

HMP Liverpool chiefs have launched an investigation following the incident.

Walmsley, who is serving 30 years for his role in the murder of Anthony Duffy, 33.

The drug-related incident saw the victim stabbed and slashed 28 times, before he died.   

Neither of the prison guards were hurt during the incident that took place after Walmsley's appointment.

Walmsley, from Walton, is described as white, 6ft tall and of slim build with dark brown hair and blue eyes. He was last seen wearing dark bottoms and a dark jacket.

The gunman is described as having his face covered and was wearing white shoes, grey tracksuit bottoms with a stripe down each side, a grey hoody and a dark coat.

The second man, who was believed to be armed with a knife, is described as having his face covered and he was wearing a green coat, dark Nike trainers and grey tracksuit bottoms.

A manhunt is now under way and police are carrying out an extensive search of the area.

The gold coloured Volvo found by police in Liverpool on Wednesday following the escape of Walmsley on Tuesday

Officers are appealing for anyone who saw this car to get in touch with information. It is believed it was spotted for a number of hours in a street before going to the hospital in the afternoon

The public are being warned not to approach the killer - described as dangerous - as he could also be in the company of the armed men who ambushed the car.

Merseyside Police Detective Superintendent Natalie Perischine said: 'We are keeping an open mind at the moment.

'Walmsley could still be with the two men that were involved yesterday or he could be with other people.

'The prison officers are physically unharmed but one the men who threatened them had a gun and the other had a knife so they will undoubtedly have been affected by the traumatic event.

'I cannot confirm that Walmsley was taken to hospital in a mini cab, but patient confidentiality prevents me from going into what the appointment was for.

'But anything that happens around Shaun Walmsley leaving the hospital or being treated is not the focus of the investigation, that is for the Ministry of Justice.

'Given the gravity of the offence that Walmsley has committed, it was a murder for which he is serving a life sentence with a minimum tariff of 30 years, so by its very definition it is a really grave offence and was a pre-meditated, violent attack.

'Undoubtedly, Walmsley is a dangerous, violent person and the two other people are dangerous and violent too.

'My advice to member so of public would be not to approach him and call 999 if they see him.

HMP Liverpool chiefs have launched an investigation following the incident

'And to add to that, I would like to add to reassure them we are working extensively to look for him and we will find him.

'It is an extremely rare occurrence and we will not rest until Walmsley is behind bars.'

Deputy General Secretary of the Prison Officers' Association (POA), Andy Darken, said it is 'fairly common' for non-Category A prisoners to be moved in taxis after a risk assessment is done to ensure this is safe.

'There's not a lot of difference if they are held up by armed gunmen in a secure van or a taxi', he told the BBC.

The Mayor of Liverpool Mr Anderson said: 'We have to call for an inquiry into what has gone on and what has happened - I am going to write to the Home Secretary.'

He added: 'This is somebody who is a convicted murderer who could well be in my city or anywhere else.

'We don't know whether he has got out to be part of any drug disputes in the city.'

Mr Anderson said it is a 'tense time' in the city of Liverpool following recent murders and that to him it looks like Walmsley has been able to plan the escape well in advance.

He also said his understanding is that the two prison officers and Walmsley turned up to the hospital appointment in a taxi, but that he is waiting for confirmation of this.

'The issues are; how it has been allowed to happen, why there were only two guards for a category A prisoner, and why he was not in a secure vehicle, if that was the case,' he added.

'Why is it the case he has been able to communicate with people outside, exactly when he was attending a hospital appointment - these are questions that all need to be asked.

'For the people of this city it is an unacceptable breach and lapse of security and we are lucky that the officers were not challenged and the firearm was not discharged in that situation.' 

Walmsley was remanded in custody at HMP Liverpool after being sentenced to life in June 2015, with a 30-year tariff, for his part in the murder of Anthony Duffy.

A manhunt is now under way and police are carrying out an extensive search of the area. Pictured is Aintree University Hospital

Mr Duffy, 33, was lured to an address in Aintree in May 2014 and 'repeatedly stabbed'.

Liverpool Crown Court heard Walmsley had a large criminal network with Christopher Kenny, the Liverpool Echo reported at the time.

Judge Clement Goldstone said the two men had decided Mr Duffy needed to be 'eliminated, not only because he was a rival drug dealer, but even more because he had dared to cross them', the Echo said.

The pair along with Kirk Mello, from Kirkby, Liverpool, and John Hore, of Orrell Park, Liverpool, were found guilty of murdering Mr Duffy.

After their sentencing, Merseyside Police said the four men had 'never shown any emotion' and had 'not expressed any remorse'. 

A Prison Service spokesperson said: 'A prisoner from HMP Liverpool has escaped while on an escorted hospital visit on Tuesday, February 21.

'The offender involved is described as dangerous and police are advising the public not to approach him.

'We are working closely with the police and are urgently investigating the matter. It would be inappropriate for us to comment further at this stage.' 

Speaking to residents near where the car was found, one neighbour said: 'We didn't see anyone get out the car at all, but this road is usually busy because of the hospital parking so we didn't think anything of it. It was parked on the street corner and the police were here about 9pm.'

Another neighbour, who also did not wish to be named, said: '‎It's quite normal to see a car there and I missed the police call but I looked out about 10pm and they were taking the car away. It is a terrible story and I really think that the hospital shouldn't let them get away with that.'

Another anonymous resident said: 'For me, the car was there all day so it could have been there before. I had never seen a gold-coloured metallic Volvo before so it was quite distinctive. I saw it parked on the corner but I didn't see the police take it away.'

WHO IS SHAUN WALMSLEY? 

Shaun Walmsley is one of four men who was convicted of killing drug dealer Anthony Duffy in Aintree.

He was jailed alongside Christopher Kenny, John Hore and Kirk Mello. 

The men denied murder and a trial at Liverpool Crown Court lasted eight weeks in 2015. 

John Hore, left, was hired by Mr Duffy but he was betrayed and given over to Walmsley and Kenny. Kirk Mello, right, was given a life sentence with a minimum term of 22 years

One witness described how Mr Duffy begged for help while two men stabbed him with a 10-inch carving knife and a 'black instrument'. 

Mr Duffy had enlisted career criminal John Hore, to help with the planned burglary of a £60,000 cannabis farm but prosecutors said he had betrayed him to Walmsley and Kenny. 

Christopher Kenny was jailed for his part in the crime

Walmsley, now 28, planned to escape to Amsterdam but Hore gave his name to the police after his arrest. 

Walmsley was sentenced to life with a minimum of 30 years. All four received life sentences with jail terms amounting to about 100 years. 

Liverpool Crown Court heard Walmsley had a large criminal network with Christopher Kenny, the Liverpool Echo reported at the time.

Judge Clement Goldstone said the two men had decided Mr Duffy needed to be 'eliminated, not only because he was a rival drug dealer, but even more because he had dared to cross them', the Echo said.

After their sentencing, Merseyside Police said the four men had 'never shown any emotion' and had 'not expressed any remorse'. 

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A neighbour of Walmsley said: 'I didn't really know him and had only seen him a couple of times.

'It's a quiet street and everyone keeps themselves to themselves but I think he grew up here and lived with a brother.

'The police helicopter was circling above the street last night so I knew something was going on but wasn't aware of what it was.' 

In nearby roads close to the hospital on Wednesday morning, residents were shocked by what had happened.  

An anonymous resident said: 'I didn't hear anything or see anything it was only when my partner ‎told me that I heard about it after.

'It is quite shocking at hear that two gunmen were able to turn up and get him.

'I have children so if prisoners are being transported just in black cabs then that is not very good, is it?'

Another resident, who wished to remain anonymous, said: 'I was in all day with my wife and I didn't see anything and never heard anything and I'd have been the first to look at the window if I did.

'If cutbacks mean that they have to transport ‎them using black cabs then that is a bit c***.

'They're going to start asking questions if a convicted killer was being moved in a cab and was this easy to get to.

'But it has happened before all around the country and it will happen again.

'But police are always around in the area so it is no surprise to see them there this morning.'

Another resident, who asked not to be named, said: '‎This is the first I have heard of it but I am not too surprised as I remember an identical thing happened a few years ago.

'Once they are past the hospital grounds and the first streets and gardens, it is very hard to stop them and they are gone.' 

Police are asking who has seen him, or knows where he is, to contact them on 999 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.