Rape suspect leaps to freedom

A man accused of a double rape escaped from the Old Bailey yesterday after slipping from the cells area into a court - before hurling himself through a locked glass window to the street below.

The police, the Court Service and Securicor immediately launched an inquiry on how the man, who was brought to the court building yesterday morning on a bench warrant, managed to evade the court security system. It is believed he slipped through a door in the cell area, and mingled with people as they left court for a short adjournment. When challenged by a probation officer, he is understood to have run through an office and hurled himself through a locked window into Newgate Street where he made his getaway.