A suspected murderer was among two inmates at the centre of a police manhunt today after they escaped from a mental health unit.

Scotland Yard warned members of the public not to approach John Claydon, 28, who is accused of a murder in Bath in April.

He escaped from Springfield Hospital, Wandsworth, south London, last night with a second man, John Slavin, 44, who also faces trial for violent offences.

It is not the first time Springfield Hospital has been thrust into the spotlight over lax security. It has been the subject of several inquiries in the past decade relating to escaped and released inmates, two of whom went on to kill.

The institution was condemned after one of its patients, John Barrett, killed a cyclist in Richmond Park in September 2004.

The paranoid schizophrenic stabbed retired banker Denis Finnegan, 50, to death after walking out of the hospital’s grounds.

An inquiry, headed by mental health solicitor Robert Robinson, found carers placed too much emphasis on Barrett’s wishes and did not properly assess the risk he posed.

And in December 2006 - on the day of a Home Office visit to discuss the Barrett security lapse - another two patients fled more than 400 miles after escaping from the secure mental health unit.

The two, one of whom was rapist Anthony Rowley, were arrested in Edinburgh after being on the run for about six hours.

The men left the secure Shaftesbury Clinic at the hospital and jumped on a train to the Scottish capital.

A member of staff was suspended and the unit was closed to new admissions as a result of the escape.

In 2004, Broadmoor patient Mark Ricketts, a schizophrenic with a history of serious violence, absconded during a day trip to Springfield.

He was on the run for six days and an inquiry later found staff forgot about his visit.

In 2000, the South West London and St George’s Mental Health Trust, which runs the hospital, was criticised in an independent report.

It found serious failures after patient Anthony Joseph was set free and went on to kill his social worker Jenny Morrison.

Ms Morrison was not told by hospital authorities that Joseph, a paranoid schizophrenic who believed he was the son of God, was a danger.

A Scotland Yard spokesman said officers had searched through the night with helicopters and dogs after the pair escaped at approximately 10.20pm.

“If members of the public see either man they are not to approach them and dial 999 immediately.

“Alternatively if anyone has seen them previously or has information that could assist the search for Slavin and Claydon please call 020 8247 8734 or 0300 123 1212."

Explore UK News

• Crime News

• Education News

• Health News

• Science News

• Scotland News

Times Recommends

• Donor organ allowed child’s own heart to heal
• Michael Jackson: Not the final chapter
• Sacha Baron Cohen forced to tone down Brüno