This is the astonishing moment a prisoner casually walked to freedom after disguising himself in a prison warden's uniform and face mask.<br /> <br />Wutthichai Dechasitthanwat, 35, had been remanded in custody since July while waiting for a court case for seven charges of theft.<br /> <br />However, the suspect feared he would receive a long sentence and hatched a plan to escape from the jail in Phetchabun, central Thailand, yesterday (September 17).<br /> <br />Wutthichai picked up a black warden's uniform and cap before using a Covid-19 face mask to hide his features.<br /> <br />He then completed the look by carrying a clipboard under his arm. <br /> <br />Incredibly, Wutthichai walked out of his cell wearing his disguise and the oblivious prison staff opened the doors for him - straight into the open car park and away to freedom.<br /> <br />The fugitive took a taxi to his house before riding away on his old motorcycle and heading for the north of the country.<br /> <br />Furious prison chiefs realised they had been duped when they checked Wutthichai's cell later in the afternoon, which sparked a police manhunt. <br /> <br />Officers said they traced a mobile phone signal which lead them to Wutthichai who was hiding in an abandoned house in the same province.<br /> <br />He was arrested - without his disguise - and hauled back to prison where he now faces additional charges of escaping from custody.<br /> <br />Police Major General Atthasit Sudsanguan said a ''large scale search'' had been launched as soon as the prisoner was reported missing.<br /> <br />The policeman added: ''We are now investigating how the prisoner could escape without anybody noticing. <br /> <br />''He said that he acted alone but we will need to be sure that there were no accomplices that helped him. <br /> <br />''We are preparing extra charges against him for breaking out of jail.''
