A DANGEROUS convict who escaped from prison and was seen heading towards Oxford has been re-arrested.

John Rooney, 47, was halfway through a 27-year sentence for kidnap and more than 20 robberies when he walked out of HMP Springhill in Buckinghamshire, on August 24.

He escaped at about 6.30am and was seen about half an hour later on a bus travelling from Bicester to Oxford.

He was arrested in Manchester yesterday.

A spokeswoman for Greater Manchester Police said: "Police in south Manchester arrested a 47-year-old man last night for escaping from lawful custody.

“He has been remanded into police custody.

"A 23-year-old woman was also arrested on suspicion of harbouring an offender. She remains in police custody for questioning."