Prison breaks from the past: The Dare Devils

The true dramatic story of Soviet spy George Blake, who escaped from Wormwood Scrubs on 22 October 1966, assisted by Sean Bourke; they both escaped from the prison and finally reached the safety of the Soviet Union. Read on this, and see how one of the most notorious criminals in the century escaped to freedom.

Colditz Castle was used as an 'escape-proof' prisoner of war camp during World War II over the course of 300 escape attempts 130 prisoners escaped, of which 30 eventually managed to reach friendly territory. Escapees tunneled, disguised themselves as guards, workmen or women, snucked away through sewer drains, and even planned to use a glider to get over the wall.

Safe cracker Alfred George Hinds - Alfie Hinds became famous for escaping from Nottingham Prison after sneaking through the locked doors and over a 20-foot prison wall for which he became known as "Houdini" Hinds. He later escaped from the Law Courts at the Old Bailey. Escorted by two guards, he went to the lavatory where they removed his handcuffs outside. Once inside, Hinds bundled the handcuffs and snapped the padlock onto screw eyes inserted on the door by his unknown accomplices and escaped into the crowd on Fleet Street. Hinds sealed his notoriety by making a third escape from Chelmsford Prison.

Before being sentenced to 12 years in the Federal Corrections Institution at Petersburg, Virginia in April 1971 Frank W. Abagnale is said to have escaped from both a British VC-10 airliner, and the Federal Detention Center in Atlanta, Georgia. His autobiography was later adapted to the screen for the 2002 release of Catch Me If You Can, starring Leonardo DiCaprio.

Danny Ray Horning escaped from the Arizona State Prison in Florence, Arizona on May 12 and a 55-day manhunt ensued as Horning fled the authorities. The pursuit ended on July 5, 1992, near Sedona, Arizona. Horning led authorities hundreds of miles through the Arizona wilderness, and committed numerous kidnappings during the manhunt.