Police in new plea for help to track down John Anslow

Police today urged people who know the whereabouts of fugitive John Anslow to come forward.

They also said they were still looking into the possibility that the 31-year-old, accused of killing Staffordshire businessman Richard Deakin, had fled abroad or was planning to.

This is despite receiving more than 60 calls from people across the UK claiming to have seen him. Detective Superintendent Martin Evans, who is leading the manhunt for Anslow, who has been on the run since being sprung from a prison van en route to Stafford Crown Court on Monday, said: "We want to speak to anyone who knows where Anslow might be.

"There's obviously a possibility that he's travelled abroad or may be planning to do so. If this is the case, there will be people who know about it and we want to speak to them." They said they were following up several calls after a TV appeal on Crimewatch featured a new picture of him.

Anslow is accused of killing Richard Deakin in Chasetown, near Cannock, in July 2010. Four other men have also been charged with murder.

Det Supt Evans added: "We remain determined to catch Anslow and are continuing to liaise with other forces and agencies nationwide."

A £10,000 reward is being offered for information that leads to Anslow's arrest.

During the escape the gang used a silver VW Scirocco – registration BT59 NXC – before switching to a silver Mercedes, which may have been a C-Class model, with the partial registration KR11. A 44-year-old man was arrested on Monday evening in the Tipton on suspicion of assisting an offender. He has been released on police bail pending further inquiries.

Crimewatch also featured the murder of retired teacher Betty Yates who was stabbed and beaten in her riverside cottage near Bewdley on January 2. Mrs Yates, aged 77, was found beaten and stabbed at her secluded cottage off Dowles Road on January 4.

Also featured on the programme was the CCTV images of an armed gang of 17 men who attacked a Staffordshire business threatening staff. The thugs targeted NextiraOne, at Wall Island, off the A5127 Birmingham Road and A5 shortly before 12.30am on August 11 last year.