Dean Ablakwa pleads not guilty to charge he aided escape of prisoner Lerone Boye

Lerone Boye was arrested earlier this week. Photograph: Metropolitan Police

A Hackney mental health unit staff worker has pleaded not guilty to allegations he helped a convicted murderer escape custody.

Dean Ablakwa, 29, from north London, denied the charge that he conspired to assist in the escape of prisoner Lerone Boye.

Mr Ablakwa appeared via video link from prison to enter his not guilty plea before Judge Peters at Snaresbrook Crown Court today.

His trial is now expected to begin on 23 April.

Lerone Boye was sentenced in December 2012 to 28 years in prison for the murder of 17-year-old Kelvin Chibueze in Ilford in 2011.

Boye went on the run for three months after absconding from the John Howard Centre in Homerton before being arrested by police in Essex this week.