Police have issued an appeal for help finding an arsonist who escaped from prison within hours of being convicted.
Julien Christopher Chautard, 39, absconded from Pentonville prison in north London soon after arriving there on Friday evening.
Earlier in the day he was sentenced to seven years in prison when he appeared at Snaresbrook Crown Court.
Chautard was convicted of one count of arson (being reckless as to whether life was endangered) and one count of arson.
He was given, respectively, seven-year and 12-month prison terms, to run concurrently.
According to the Metropolitan Police, Chautard was then transferred to HMP Pentonville. "He is thought to have escaped shortly after arriving at the prison at approximately 7pm," a spokesman said.
Chautard is white, 5ft 7ins tall, of slim build with fair hair and blue eyes.
He has connections in France, where he was born, and is also known to have links to the Hackney, Edgware and Kings Cross areas of London.
The Ministry of Justice said in a statement: "On March 27, prisoner Julien Christopher Chautard, DOB 23/3/70, escaped from custody while being processed on arrival at HMP Pentonville. The circumstances around the escape will be fully investigated. This is now a matter for the police."
Anyone with information should contact DS Robert Ryan at Islington CID on 020 7421 0196 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
