Prisoner in van jail escape

Liviu Marin is serving a sentence for burglary

Police are appealing for help in finding a prisoner who managed a daring escape from two jails in the same day.

Nineteen-year-old Liviu Marin, who is Romanian, was serving time for burglary and theft.

He escaped from the privately-run Parc Prison in Bridgend by hanging underneath a van which travelled to Swansea Prison.

He eventually dropped free when it stopped at traffic lights after leaving the jail.

Independent investigators from the Prison Service are at Parc Prison on Monday, are conducting an inquiry.

A police spokesman said Marin was believed to have made his escape by climbing underneath a prison van and clinging on as it left the grounds, using a piece of clothing to strap himself to the chassis on the Securicor van.

He held on to the van as it drove at up to 70 miles an hour for 20 miles along the M4 motorway to Swansea prison, only letting go as the vehicle stopped at traffic lights.

The teenager was being held at HM Parc Prison

Detectives are concentrating their search on the Swansea area after he was last seen climbing out form under the van in Oystermouth Road, at about 1140 BST on Friday.

But it has been revealed that the prisoner has connections in the West Midlands and police are appealing to motorists to remember if they have given anyone who matches his description a lift since Friday morning.

A South Wales Police spokesman said: "Marin was in Park Prison for burglary - we don't believe him to be dangerous but advise the public not to approach him."

Investigation

An external investigation is to be held at Parc Prison to discover how the prisoner breached security.

"Marin is from the Birmingham area and was on remand for theft, burglary and handling stolen goods," said Parc Prison spokeswoman Alison Williams.

"Procedures are being reviewed and we will look at how and why this could have happened.

"There will be an external investigation by an independent team from the Prison Service as well as an internal investigation."

Marin, who has been living in Oldbury in the West Midlands, is about 5 ft 9 in tall, of a medium build, with ginger hair, an oval face and brown eyes.

He was last seen wearing a red polo shirt, blue jeans and black trainers and was carrying a white plastic bag.

He does not speak English very well.

Anyone with information about the whereabouts of the prisoner is asked to contact South Wales Police CID at Bridgend on 01656 655 555.