Killer's Swansea court dash details kept under wraps by security firm Reliance
James Stevenson broke out of Swansea's Guildhall court complex and was on the run for more than a fortnight.
The escape prompted a massive manhunt, which cost South Wales Police more than £25,000 in overtime alone.
At the time he fled, Stevenson had been the responsibility of security firm Reliance, which is used to guard and transport prisoners.
The firm carried out an investigation into what happened but is staying tight-lipped about its outcome.
Reliance bosses said they are unable to comment on the report as it had been sent to the Ministry of Justice in London — and the ministry also declined to reveal any details.
Instead, the Ministry of Justice issued a statement which said: "Following a thorough investigation of this incident, steps have been taken to ensure everything possible is done to avoid it happening again."
Stevenson, from Caernarvon Way, Bonymaen, was on the run for 16 days before handing himself in, fearful he would be caught — and possibly shot — by armed police.
He had been in the Guildhall court on October 2 last year for sentencing for a firearms offence.
He was sent down for five years, but shortly after being led from the courtroom he escaped.
It emerged after his recapture that he had used a shoelace to open a spring-loaded latch on his cell door before using a fire extinguisher to smash bolts on another door and making good his escape by climbing 28ft over razor-wire fence and getting onto a roof.
While on the run he attempted to rob a Morriston jewellers and assaulted its owner.
Stevenson was given two years for his escape, in addition to his original five-year sentence.
October's escape was not the first time he had fled from custody.
In 2002, Stevenson had been sent to jail for the manslaughter of 46-year-old Paul Mainwaring at a flat in Gorseinon. He was given a five-year sentence for the killing, but he escaped from a prison in Devon in 2005.
The Evening Post has submitted a Freedom of Information request to the Ministry of Justice to obtain details of the Reliance report, and to find out whether any members of staff were disciplined over the incident.
jason.evans@swwmedia.co.uk
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