Key Points
- Daniel Boakye, a 21-year-old prisoner from north London, escaped police custody at Lewisham Hospital in south London on Sunday, 15 February 2026, around 15:05hrs while receiving medical treatment.
- This marks his second escape in a week; he first absconded from prison custody at West Middlesex University Hospital in the early hours of Tuesday, 10 February 2026.
- Boakye was recaptured at an address in Thamesmead, southeast London, on Wednesday, 11 February 2026, afternoon, and arrested on suspicion of escaping lawful custody.
- Four people, including a 17-year-old girl, were arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender following his first recapture.
- Boakye is serving a six-year and five-month sentence at HMP Feltham, handed down in July 2023 at Wood Green Crown Court for conspiracy to commit robbery involving knifepoint theft of over £115,000 in cryptocurrency.
- He is described as violent, with gang affiliations to OFB (Original Farm Boys) drill group from Tottenham, and known as drill rapper Dsavv or Dsav.
- Boakye is due for deportation to Ghana upon completion of his sentence, a process government sources say is still being actively pursued.
- Physical description: Black male, medium height, slim build; last seen wearing grey tracksuit bottoms and a dark Nike jacket.
- Metropolitan Police launched a manhunt, urged public not to approach, and are reviewing both incidents with the Directorate of Professional Standards informed.
- Reports suggest Boakye taunted police online via social media after his second escape.
Lewisham, South London (South London News) February 18, 2026 – Police in south London are urgently hunting for Daniel Boakye, a 21-year-old violent prisoner with gang ties incarcerated at HMP Feltham, after he escaped custody for the second time in a week. The Metropolitan Police confirmed that Boakye absconded from Lewisham Hospital on Sunday, 15 February 2026, at approximately 15:05hrs while under guard for medical treatment. Officers gave chase but were unable to detain him before he fled the building, prompting a renewed public appeal.
Who is Daniel Boakye?
Daniel Boakye, aged 21 and from Enfield in north London, was jailed in July 2023 at Wood Green Crown Court following conviction for conspiracy to commit robbery. As reported by the Evening Standard, he received a sentence of six years and five months for his role in a series of knifepoint robberies between June 2021 and January 2022, where he and accomplices stole over £115,000 in cryptocurrency.
The gang, including Boakye, Justin Popoola, Nathan Mohalland, and a 17-year-old, threatened victims at knifepoint, seized their phones, extracted passcodes, and transferred funds to “hot wallets”, according to court details cited by the Evening Standard. Police traced them via stolen banking details used for takeaway orders to their addresses.
A source familiar with the situation told GB News that “although he is only in for robbery, Boakye is extremely dangerous and has links to serious gang members. Boakye is a gangster and his violence inside Feltham has been off the scale. He has attacked staff and other inmates and mixed with other gang members inside.”
What Happened in the First Escape?
Boakye first slipped away from prison custody in the early hours of Tuesday, 10 February 2026, at West Middlesex University Hospital, as Sky News understands. The Prison Service stated they were “urgently” working with the Metropolitan Police to investigate the hospital escape.
As detailed by the Chiswick Calendar, Boakye, a HMP Feltham inmate, gave prison guards the slip during a hospital visit and sparked a major police manhunt. Officers located him at an address in Thamesmead, southeast London, on Wednesday afternoon, 11 February 2026.[user query] He was arrested on suspicion of escaping lawful custody, and on 12 February, faced charges related to the incident, per BBC reports.
The Mirror reported that four individuals, including a 17-year-old girl, were arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender after his recapture.
Why Did He Escape from Lewisham Hospital?
On Sunday, 15 February 2026, Boakye was back in police custody at Lewisham Hospital for medical treatment when he fled around 15:05hrs. A Metropolitan Police spokeswoman stated:
“Daniel Boakye was in police custody at the hospital receiving medical treatment when he fled. Officers gave chase but could not detain Boakye before he left the building.”
The BBC noted that after his first arrest, Boakye was taken to hospital again later that evening on 11 February and remained there until the second escape on 15 February. Sky News described him as a “violent” prisoner due for deportation, highlighting his gang connections.
What Do Police Say About the Escapes?
The Metropolitan Police issued a statement on the second escape:
“We are searching for a 21-year-old man who absconded from Lewisham Hospital at around 15:05hrs on Sunday, 15 February… He is 21 years old, black, of medium height, and slim build. He was wearing grey tracksuit bottoms and a dark Nike jacket when he absconded. We are currently reviewing this incident to fully understand the events which unfolded. The Met’s Directorate of Professional Standards is aware.”
For the first incident, police confirmed the recapture in Thamesmead and arrests of associates. The force cautioned the public: “Anyone who has any information about Boakye’s whereabouts is asked to contact police,” as per The Independent. They urged not to approach him, citing his dangerous nature.
Is Daniel Boakye Connected to Gangs or Music?
Multiple sources link Boakye to the OFB drill collective from Broadwater Farm, Tottenham, north London. Known as Dsavv or Dsav, he is a drill rapper with tracks like “Pocket Rocket”, “No Behaviour”, and collaborations with OFB members such as Axe, Bandz K, and SJ, as mentioned in YouTube reports.
AllHipHop reported on his past: “A member of North-London-based drill collective OFB, Dsavv whose real name is Daniel Boakye, was jailed earlier this year for his role in a spate of armed robberies.” GB News called him “a gang member and drill rapper”. An Instagram post confirmed: “Daniel Boakye, 21, also known as Dsavv and from the UK drill group OFB”.
What is His Deportation Status?
Boakye is scheduled for deportation to Ghana after serving his sentence, a detail Sky News first highlighted. Government sources told GB News that his deportation is still being “actively pursued” despite the escapes.
The Mirror noted he faces deportation “in the near future”, potentially motivating his flights. A YouTube video claimed:
“Boakye’s case has drawn extra attention because he was due to be deported to Ghana after completing his sentence — a prospect he reportedly tried to avoid by fleeing custody.”
Has He Taunted Police Online?
The Mirror reported:
“Escaped prisoner ‘taunts police online’ after second jailbreak this week… Daniel Boakye is on the run for a second time in a week after giving police officers the slip, with the robber allegedly taking to social media to taunt officers after his latest escape”.
How Does This Fit Broader Prison Escape Trends?
GB News contextualised:
“Mr Boakye’s multiple escapes come just months before he was due to be deported to Ghana… This second escape comes after a string of mistakenly released prisoners and escapees, notably Epping hotel migrant Hadush Kebatu, who was freed in error last year and HMP Wandsworth runaway, Daniel Khalife, in 2023.”
The manhunt for Kebatu, imprisoned for assaulting a 14-year-old girl, lasted two days.
The Evening Standard and others noted the shock of repeated escapes from hospitals. Police are investigating lapses, with professional standards reviews underway.
Police continue the manhunt as of 18 February 2026, with no updates on recapture. Boakye remains at large, described as a high-risk individual. This incident raises questions on custody protocols in medical settings amid rising concerns over prison security in London.
