A MAN has been arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender who escaped after being taken to hospital.

Police reported a 30-year-old man from Banbury was arrested earlier today.

The arrest is in connection with the escape from lawful custody of Lewis Abubakar from Horton General Hospital in Banbury on April 15.

Abubakar remains at large and searches are underway in the Banbury area.

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The 29-year-old had been arrested on suspicion of possession with intent to supply Class A drugs in Bicester on April 14 after a vehicle that he was in was found to contain a significant amount of Class A drugs.

Following Abubakar’s arrest, he stated he had a wrist injury and was taken to the Horton General Hospital in for treatment.

Abubakar fled from the A&E department of the hospital while still in handcuffs in the early hours of April 15.

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Abubakar is a black male and around 6ft 3ins tall with a medium build.

He has short black hair and short, tidy beard.

He is known to frequent the Banbury, Bicester and Oxford areas as well as Birmingham in the West Midlands.

Call police on 999, quoting reference number 43210158051.