Burglar who escaped from jail pops up on Facebook to announce engagement

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A dangerous burglar, who is subject to a major manhunt after escaping from jail last month, has popped up on Facebook – appearing to be celebrating his engagement while eating a piece of toast in his girlfriend’s bed.

Sam Hawkins announced his plan to marry Danielle Foster in a Facebook post from prison on October 9 and the next day he jumped over the fence at HMP Sudbury in Derbyshire.

The 34-year-old was last seen hiking down the A515 towards the Peak District town of Ashbourne with fellow escapee Darren McKay, 37.

Since then police forces around the country have been searching for the ‘dangerous criminal’ and warning members of the public not to approach him.

Yesterday, Miss Foster added a temporary profile picture to her Facebook page that appears to show her pouting into the camera while a topless Hawkins nibbled on some toast while reclining on a bed next to her.

He was tagged along with four blue hearts. Sam Hawkins, 34,  (pictured) escaped from HMP Sudbury in Derbyshire last month

Sam Hawkins, 34,  (pictured) escaped from HMP Sudbury in Derbyshire last monthYesterday, Miss Foster added a temporary profile picture to her Facebook page appearing to show her pouting into the camera while a topless Hawkins nibbled on some toast

Yesterday, Miss Foster added a temporary profile picture to her Facebook page appearing to show her pouting into the camera while a topless Hawkins nibbled on some toast

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Back on July 5 last year, she changed her relationship status to announce that she was now with Hawkins, who had been sentenced to nine years and four months jail a year earlier.

A source told MailOnline: ‘It’s crazy. Danielle has four kids and only got with him whilst he was in prison. She has never seen him on the outside so this picture must be recent.

‘Up until now the only pictures she has shared of him are ones from prison calls.’

Police put out this mugshot of criminal Hawkins when he absconded from prison

Hawkins was part of a seven-strong south London gang who were jailed for a total of almost 50 years in June 2019.

They specialised in ramming shops and ripping out ATMs as well as residential burglaries and their crime spree lasted from September 2017 until their arrests in December 2018.

Officers in the area of south-east London targeted by the gang for their residential burglaries reported a 25 per cent drop in such crimes after their arrests.

Hawkins and fellow burglar McKay were caught on camera at HMP Sudbury making their escape at 10.15 pm on October 10.

They were said to have two rucksacks with them along with another bag and a towel.

He was described as being of medium build, around 5ft 7ins tall with brown hair and brown eyes.

The escape prompted a huge manhunt from police forces around the country and also appeared to trigger further escapes from the ‘low-security jail.

Just two days after their escape, arsonist Adam Curtling, 35, absconded and earlier this month violent drug dealer Robert Shannon Smith, 28, never returned having been let out on a temporary licence.

Hawkins, 34, announced his plan to marry Danielle Foster in a Facebook post from prison on October 9 - the day before he escaped from the prison

HMP Sudbury, which houses 581 prisoners, is a Category D jail, meaning it has minimal security as offenders have been risk-assessed and trusted not to escape.

Prisoners eligible for day release can apply to spend most of their day away from the facility for work, education or other purposes.

MailOnline has contacted Derbyshire Police and Miss Foster for comment