Drug dealer who escaped jail by jumping fence at HMP Kirkham STILL on loose after 73 days

The escape took place on the same day that 1,100 inmates were freed across the UK as part of Labour’s plans to reduce overcrowding behind bars, including 50 at HMP Kirkham.

While Lancashire Police and the Ministry of Justice said at the time they were “urgently working” to recapture the prisoner, the People’s Channel can confirm the search remains ongoing.

And despite concerns about his escape, GB News understands that security measures have not been ramped up at HMP Kirkham following the escape.

In an update, a Prison Service spokesman said: “We’re urgently working with the police to recapture this prisoner.

“Absconds are rare, but those who break the rules face tough consequences including being moved to closed conditions and extra jail time.”

Lancashire Police separately added that there is “no update” to Riley’s escape at this moment in time.

Riley was sentenced to eight years in prison after being arrested by Greater Manchester Police as part of a longstanding investigation into drug trafficking.

The investigation, known as Operation Bowler, resulted in 16 men being jailed.

The conspiracy involved in this investigation ran between September 2021 and July 2022.

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During this period, the group were responsible for the movement of at least 75 kilos of high-purity cocaine, which has an estimated street sale value of £7.5million.

Riley attempted to flee the clutches of officers in his underwear when he was arrested.

The 31-year-old also sustained several small cuts on his hands after trying to break two mobile phones which were later recovered by the police.

Riley was sentenced in April 2024 after being found guilty of conspiracy to supply drugs and possession of criminal property in a trial the previous year.

The Category D prison holds inmates who are deemed to pose a low risk and can be managed securely in lower security conditions.

Offenders who fail in an open prison are excluded from returning to an open prison for at least two years.

The latest update in Riley’s escape comes just days after ex-Justice Secretary David Gauke urged Sir Keir Starmer’s Government to send more prisoners to open prisons to reduce reoffending.

Gauke, who is leading a review into sentencing and overcrowding, said: “We don’t make as much use of open prisons as we might do.”