Prison Staff Duped as Fraudster Walks Free – But Escape Plot Quickly Unravels
Junead Ahmed, locked up for property fraud, pulled off a cheeky escape from HMP Chelmsford before his sentencing. But the ex-con’s clever plan hit a dead end when he tried the same stunt to break out two fellow inmates – and failed spectacularly.
Bold Prison Break Bid Backfires
Ahmed aimed to free Charlie Whittaker, locked up over a violent incident tied to the death of 49-year-old Charlotte Whittaker, and Adam Mohamed, a drug dealer he had befriended behind bars. However, prison staff grew suspicious when a flood of unusual letters arrived, halting the breakout attempts for both men.
Ahmed was quickly caught and shoved back in his cell, dashing any hopes of escaping again.
Six Charged Over Plot to Jailbreak
The daring escape plan saw six people charged with conspiracy. Judge Mary Loram KC at Chelmsford Crown Court branded it “very meticulously planned.”
- Ahmed, 36, from Woodman Road, Brentwood, and Whittaker, 28, of Bemerton Gardens, Kirby Cross, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to escape on September 9, 2023.
- Aaruan Noor Ali, 20, the so-called “tech man” from Monteagle Avenue, Barking, also admitted guilt.
- Whittaker’s mother, Charlotte, and Nazash Akhtar, 37, of Collerne Street in Harold Hill, confessed to helping the escape attempt.
More Guilty Pleas and Chilling Motives
Adam Mohamed, 29, from Wilds Rent, Bermondsey, accepted a lesser charge of attempting to escape lawful custody on September 10, 2023. Ahmed reportedly admired Mohamed inside prison, telling his wife, “I’m going to change his life. He has such a great heart. He will die for me. I will release him.”
Sentencing Looms for All Involved
All six conspirators face sentencing in October 2023. Judge Loram made it clear the Met Police consider this a serious offence, warning of swift, hefty prison sentences for those caught behind bars trying to break free.
Meanwhile, Ahmed was handed a four-year jail term for his original fraud crimes. Whittaker was serving a one-year sentence for actual bodily harm linked to a deadly attack on gym instructor Michelle Cooper in Jaywick.
