Lewisham Breakout: Search Expands to Seven Counties

Residents across London are being told to call 999 if they spot Anthony Lloyd, a 38-year-old prisoner who escaped custody on Friday. The Metropolitan police have warned that Lloyd poses a risk to himself and the public, and they have instructed people to avoid approaching him directly. If sighted, he is wearing a grey-blue T-shirt, black tracksuit bottoms, and white trainers. He stands about 5 feet 8 inches tall, has a medium build, and short dark hair.

Lloyd forced his way out of a health unit in Lewisham shortly after 4 p.m. on Friday, October 16. He was last seen heading toward Catford at approximately 4:10 p.m. that evening. On Saturday, the Metropolitan police issued a statement confirming his movement in that direction. Detective Superintendent Melanie Pressley, who is leading the investigation, said officers are conducting inquiries to return him to custody. She appealed for any information, however small, to be shared with police urgently.

Lloyd was convicted in 2025 of actual bodily harm related to an incident in Nottinghamshire involving three emergency services workers. He received a 12-month custodial sentence. In September 2026, he was transferred to the Lewisham medical facility where he escaped. Police believe he could be anywhere in the capital but noted his links to other regions. These include Surrey, Sussex, Thames Valley, Hampshire, Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire, and Merseyside. The search has now widened to cover these seven areas in addition to London.

The public is asked to quote reference CAD4739/23Oct when reporting sightings. Pressley reiterated that the priority is to locate Lloyd safely. She stated that the force is concerned about his potential to cause harm to himself or others. The reference number serves as a tracking mechanism for all reports related to the manhunt. No further details on his current location have been released as of the weekend update.