A JAILED puppy-snatching armed robber tried to escape by switching places with his identical twin brother who was visiting him in prison.
Brazen Elhaj Diarrassouba, 24, almost slipped out of HMP Five Wells in Wellingborough, following a visit from his family by handing his prison armband to his twin.
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But the sneaky criminal was rumbled as he prepared to walk out with his family after an eagle-eyed prison officer noticed the difference in clothes his brother was wearing as he went back to the cells.
A prison source said: “Families can mingle in the visiting hall.
“They are not sitting across desks with glass in front of them and hence they can get closer.
“At some stage, the brothers were able to swap an arm band used to identify inmates.
“At the end of the visit, the brother went to join other prisoners who were going back to their cells.
“A sharp-eyed officer spotted the difference in clothes and apprehended him.
“It was fortunate as Elhaj was just about to walk out.”
After the incident on April 11 Diarrassouba was taken to the jail’s Care and Separation Unit and put on the Escape List and has subsequently been moved to Category A Woodhill jail, Milton Keynes.
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A spokesperson for G4S said: “Vigilant staff immediately intervened and there was no security breach.”
A Northamptonshire Police spokesperson said: “An investigation into the incident took place.”
The firm said it was proud that security measures had worked promptly.
An investigation has been launched.
Diarrassouba was convicted of robbery and trying to steal a £3,000 puppy in August last year.
Swansea Crown Court was told the Londoner travelled to South Wales with accomplice Joshua McCook, 23, to buy an American Bulldog puppy with fake £50 notes.
The deal went wrong when dog-breeder Adam Moheiz realised the wad of £50 notes was fake.
And after a heated argument, both men put on balaclavas and produced knives, stealing the animal.
They escaped in Diarrassouba’s girlfriend’s car and police quickly traced them back to her address where the puppy was recovered and the men arrested.
Diarrassouba was sentenced to five years in prison, and McCook to three years and nine months.
