A prisoner escaped as he grappled with a police officer at an underground station to flee the scene on a train.

Kwami Richards, 42, went on the run after escaping from a police van in Brixton, south London at 2pm on Friday.

He was wanted on recall to prison for breaching his licence conditions after serving a sentence for burglary.

Richards had been arrested by Metropolitan Police and was in the process of being sent back to prison by a private security company when he managed to escape.

He dashed into Brixton Underground Station where police initially caught up with him.

But after escaping from the van, Richards fled into a nearby tube station, where he got into a fight with an officer pursuing him.

Footage taken inside a tube carriage at Brixton underground station shows a plain-clothed police officer grabbing hold of Richards’ left wrist.

Suddenly, the burglar punches him with his right fist square in the face before running off and jumping onto the Victoria Line train.

After wildly swinging, Richards then flees down the Tube platform, chased by the suspected officer before making his escape.

Richards boarded a train on the Victoria Line, and is said to have links to Wandsworth in South London.

The public is being urged to not approach Richards if he is seen and is instead asked to call 999.

The force is currently investigating how Richards managed to escape the van.

A police spokesman said: ‘Officers are appealing for information about the whereabouts of a man who escaped from custody in south London.

‘Kwami Richards escaped from a prison transport van outside Brixton police station at approximately 2pm on Friday May 26.

‘The 42-year-old, who has links to Wandsworth, was wanted on recall to prison for beaching his licence conditions after serving a sentence for burglary.

‘He had been arrested by Met officers and was in the process of being transported to prison by a private security company when the incident occurred.

‘He was pursued by a police officer who witnessed the incident into Brixton Underground station.

‘The officer was assaulted as he attempted to detain Richards who then boarded a Victoria line train.

‘Richards should not be approached, and the public are asked to call 999 immediately if he is seen.