After walking through the double doors of Court 35, Peter Blake turned down a winding staircase and within three minutes had navigated his way unnoticed through the Gothic maze of the Royal Courts of Justice.
The disappearance of the “dangerous” suspect who had been allowed to remain on bail during the first big criminal trial without a jury for 400 years was last night condemned as “a low point in British legal history”.
Detectives hunting for Mr Blake believe he may have fled abroad, as it was revealed that he had previously gone on the run to northern Cyprus.
The prosecution is expected to consider asking for the withdrawal of bail from his three co-defendants when the court sits on Monday morning. Mr Blake, 57,