Murderer Lerone Boye convicted for being unlawfully at large

Lerone Boye. Photograph: Metropolitan Police

A convicted murderer who went on the run for four months from the John Howard Centre in Homerton has been found guilty of being unlawfully at large.

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

He was then transferred to mental health unit the John Howard Centre in Homerton but escaped in October last year and was at large for four months.

Boye was eventually found in January this year hiding under a bed at a house in Chigwell as part of a planned police operation.

This week Boye pleaded guilty to the charge of being unlawfully at large at Snaresbrook Crown Court.

Dean Ablakwa, a staff worker at the John Howard Centre, was acquitted of conspiracy to assist an offender escape from lawful custody.

20 year-old Mr Ablakwa was employed as a social therapist who worked on the medium-secure ward on which Boye was detained.

On 16 October Mr Ablakwa was asked to escort another patient to reception for approved unescorted community leave.

However, he also took Boye from the ward at the same time without seeking permission or alerting more senior staff.

They went into an airlock area by the door and Boye appeared to bend down as the other patient legitimately signed himself out.

Boye then pushed the other patient to one side and made his escape.

Investigating officer Detective Inspector Mark Lawson said:
“Boye is a violent murderer and his escape prompted a large-scale police operation with hundreds of enquiries carried out to locate him.

“He has shown no remorse for the distress he undoubtedly caused the family of Kelvin Chibueze by absconding and I am pleased he is back where he belongs – behind bars.”

Lerone Boye will now be sentenced at a later date.