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Man in court accused of escaping from open prison HMP Ford

Byoxfordnewspaper

Aug 23, 2022

A prisoner was allegedly on the run for two weeks after slipping from an open jail.

James Brosnan, 39, appeared before Oxford Magistrates’ Court this afternoon accused of escape from lawful custody and malicious communications.

He was said to have absconded from HMP Ford, a category D open prison in West Sussex, on August 10.

The serving prisoner was said to have made a ‘malicious communication’ over a public communication network in Oxford on August 20.

The magistrates remanded Brosnan, of Wokingham, in custody to attend Oxford Crown Court on September 16 for a plea and trial preparation hearing.

As an indictable only offence, a plea to a charge of escape from lawful custody can only be taken at the crown court.

Jay Singh appeared for the Crown Prosecution Service. Alan Mee, attending court via video link, represented the defendant.

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This story was written by Tom Seaward. He joined the team in 2021 as Oxfordshire's court and crime reporter.

To get in touch with him email: Tom.Seaward@newsquest.co.uk

Follow him on Twitter: @t_seaward