Flashback: 20 years since Brenden Abbott and the ‘angel wire five’s’ 1997 escape from jail

IT was the prison break that shocked Australia. How did the ‘postcard bandit’ lead a group of murderers and rapists to escape from custody and go on the run in late 1997? This is the story of Brenden Abbott.

IT was the prison break that stopped the nation and led to one of Australia’s biggest manhunts.

The November 5, 1997 escape from the Sir David Longland Correctional Centre at Wacol was masterminded by notorious armed robber Brenden James Abbott became one of the biggest news stories of the 1990s.

Sir David Longland prison where the five prisoners escaped. November 5, 1997 Pic Grainger Laffan.

Abbott, known as the ‘postcard bandit’, was imprisoned at the centre after a series of armed robberies, some of which happened in Gold Coast banks.

Abbott was believed to have hidden up to $1 million from the 37 robberies he was believed to have committed.

Brenden James Abbott, the ‘postcard bandit’.

The escape began at 12.30am as Abbott led four of what were hailed as Australia’s most dangerous criminals, to freedom.

Snipers from outside the prison fired high-powered rifles at guards while the prisoners themselves cut through the fences using bolt cutters and diamond-encrusted ‘angel’ wire.

Brenden James Abbott (left) while on the run.

After making it over the fence the men escaped in a car left for them outside the jail grounds.

Police described the escapees as ‘the most dangerous and desperate people on the streets of Australia’.

Police SERT teams searched the nearby bushland but found no trace of the men.

Police pass on photographs during the search at Forest Lake. Pic: Nathan Richter.

The ‘angel wire five’ were Abbott, rapist Peter Thomas Stirling, Armed robber and murderer Jason John Nixon, murderer Andrew John Jeffery and murderer Oliver Alincic.

Stirling was serving a 13-year sentence for the 1994 rape of a Gold Coast woman, his then-19-year-old neighbour in Mermaid Beach.

The abandoned car used in the prison escape Pic: Nathan Richter.

In the aftermath of the escape, Police Minister Russell Cooper admitted there “could have been better security measures” at the prison.

The escape was a severe embarrassment for Premier Rob Borbidge who insisted stern action would be taken against Wacol jail authorities.

The armoured car which had its headlights shot out during the escape. Pic: Nathan Richter.

He branding the escape of five dangerous prisoners a disgrace and vowed the Government would take ``whatever action is necessary’’ to prevent another breakout.

``I am absolutely appalled that these five people escaped _ it should not have happened. It is a disgrace,’’ he said.

Police Minister Russell Cooper outside the jail.

``The responsibility of the authorities is to make sure we are ahead of these people, not behind them _ that’s we’re proactive, not reactive.

``The security arrangements were obviously not adequate.’’

Stirling was recaptured just two days later at a Mermaid Waters House where he was found with local woman Natasha Hile, who was charged with harbouring a fugitive.

Brendan Luke Berichon helped Abbott escape from custody. He was seen on CCTV footage here days later.

Alincic was recaptured in Nimbin in northern NSW, Nixon was found in Noosa and Jeffrey was arrested just one month after the escape after getting into a pub fight in Melbourne.

Abbott was Australia’s most wanted man for six months and police across the nation led a manhunt to find the criminal.

SERT team in bushland at Forest Lake searching for the prisoners. Picture: Nathan Richter.

Abbott was finally recaptured in May 1998 outside a Darwin laundromat and was sentenced to a further six years for escaping lawful custody and four counts of serious assault.

The following year he was sentenced to another seven years for armed robbery and six years for unlawful use of a motor vehicle with a circumstance of aggravation committed while at large

In mid-2016 he was extradited from Queensland to Western Australia after being granted parole on outstanding charges.

He remains behind bars today.