Prison Absconder Recaptured in East Horsley

Published on: 21 Jul, 2015
Updated on: 24 Jul, 2015

Mark Chatfield of Albury, convicted burglar.

Prison absconder Mark Chatfield has been arrested and returned to custody after 18 days on the run. He absconded from Ford Prison on July 2.

Chatfield was arrested at an address in East Horsley, Surrey, shortly after 7pm on Saturday (July 18) after officers from Sussex and Surrey Police worked together to identify where he was.

The 39-year-old was jailed for four years for burglary in August 2014 after he broke into a home in Guildford, in December 2013.

He was charged with escaping from lawful custody and remanded in custody to appear at Redhill Magistrates’ Court on Monday (20 July).

PC Lewis Dines, who was leading the investigation for the absconder, said: “Three people have absconded from HMP Ford in as many weeks. These three have all now been recaptured within 18 days of the first one escaping, with Mark Chatfield being the last of them.

“All three offenders have been charged for escaping lawful custody and remanded back to a closed prison. This again shows the positive stance that Sussex Police has when it comes to absconders. The message is clear. If you abscond from prison, you face the prospect of prosecution for doing so.

“I would also like to thank the public and the media for their help tracing him.”