Police have recaptured a violent prisoner who staged an audacious escape as he was taken to hospital in west London.

Joe Farnan, who was serving a life sentence, made his escape from an ambulance as he was being taken to Hammersmith Hospital from Wormwood Scrubs.

As he made his journey, on January 8 at 2pm, the rear door was opened and two men wearing balaclavas - one carrying a handgun - were waiting outside, where they removed Farnan and drove off in a waiting silver Volvo.

It was the third time Farnan, 27, had staged an escape from jail, his latest escape having been orchestrated after he feigned suffering a number of fits in prison and asked to be taken to hospital.

This evening, however, the Metropolitan Police revealed he had been recaptured after a surveillance operation by detectives in Docklands.

In a statement a police spokesman said: "Following an intensive surveillance operation by detectives from the Specialist Crime Directorate, Joe Farnan was arrested at an address, at approx 17.00.

"He remains in custody at a central London police station."

Police added that a woman in her 20s was also arrested with him. "She is also in custody at a London police station," the spokesman said.

Farnan was serving his sentence having been convicted at Harrow Crown Court on July 10, 2006, for conspiracy to rob, aggravated vehicle-taking and escaping from lawful custody.

The Volvo in which he escaped was found abandoned in Brunner Rd, in west London, in the early hours of January 9.

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