Jailed Drill Rapper Daniel Boakye Taunts Police After Escape

A nationwide search is under way following the Daniel Boakye escape, after the jailed drill rapper fled custody for the second time in less than a week and then appeared to mock police in a video posted online.

Daniel Boakye, 21, absconded from Lewisham Hospital in south-east London on Sunday afternoon. He had been taken there for medical treatment when he ran from guards at around 3:05pm. Officers gave chase but were unable to detain him before he left the building, the Metropolitan Police confirmed.

The incident came just five days after a similar breach. On 10 February, Boakye escaped from prison officers while at West Middlesex University Hospital. He was recaptured by Met Police the following day. However, his second escape has raised urgent questions about custodial procedures and hospital security arrangements.

Shortly after the latest incident, a video circulated on Instagram that appears to show Boakye performing in front of a screen displaying a news report about his earlier escape. In the footage, the drill rapper, who performs under the name dsavv, references breaking out of jail and describes himself as “fresh home,” alongside lyrics alluding to champagne and cannabis. One line compares his actions to a character from the television series Top Boy.

Police have not confirmed the authenticity of the video but say efforts to locate him are ongoing. A Metropolitan Police spokesperson said the force is reviewing the circumstances surrounding the Lewisham Hospital escape to understand how events unfolded. The Met’s Directorate of Professional Standards has been made aware of the matter.

Boakye was jailed in 2023 for six years and five months after being convicted as part of a cryptocurrency robbery gang. Prosecutors said the group targeted victims at knifepoint, forcing them to hand over phone passcodes to access digital wallets. The gang stole approximately £115,000 in cryptocurrency and also used victims’ bank details to pay for taxis and mobile phone credit.

The case highlighted the growing intersection between street crime and digital assets. Investigators described how the gang exploited access to victims’ financial information in a matter of minutes, leaving little opportunity for recovery.

Now, attention has shifted from the courtroom to the streets, as officers continue their search. The Daniel Boakye escape has prompted renewed scrutiny over prisoner escorts to medical facilities, particularly when high-risk individuals are involved.

Authorities are urging anyone with information about his whereabouts to contact police. As the Met Police manhunt continues, questions remain over how a prisoner serving a lengthy sentence was able to evade custody twice in such a short period — and whether further safeguards are needed to prevent similar incidents in future.