John Patrick Hannan is the world's most successful prison fugitive who has been on the run for sixty years; escaping with his inmate Gwynant Thomas who was later returned to the prison. John Hannon holds the record for the longest escape from custody after he escaped from Verne Prison, located in Portland, in December 1955. In 2001, Hannan overtook double killer Leonard Fristoe's record of 45 years and 11 months. In 1998, Dorset Police appealed directly to Hannan to give himself up. In a force newsletter, officers said: "If you read this Mr Hannan please write in, we'd love to hear from you."