Italian media have revealed details of 41-year-old Taulant Toma's escape from prison.

Yesterday, when officers at the maximum security prison in Opera, just outside Milan, entered his cell, they found a sawn-off pole and the skillfully tied sheets he had used to climb down to the courtyard. He had carefully planned his escape. Apparently, he had gathered the sheets he needed to climb down from the third floor, over 10 metres. Toma had also used a series of broomsticks tied together with tape along with an iron hook as a “ladder” that helped him climb over the wall.

His cellmate was supposed to be part of the escape, but in the end he gave up.

Cameras filmed the 41-year-old fleeing on foot. It was 6:30 a.m. and the alarm apparently hadn't gone off. Prison officers apparently didn't notice anything, giving Taulant at least an hour's head start.