Police were today investigating after an Olympic starting pistol was thrown over a wall into Chelmsford Prison.
An Essex Police spokesman said they were keeping an open mind about the incident but refused to rule out "sinister" motives, including an escape attempt.
The pistol was found at the Springfield Road jail during a routine inspection of the boundaries by staff on Sunday morning.
The prison has launched its own investigation but a Home Office spokesman declined to comment further.
Security measures ensured no inmates could have reached the pistol, which was in what is described as "a sterile area".
Police were awaiting the results of forensic tests on the gun, which was found in a plastic carrier bag.
Chief Insp Jed Stopher, of Chelmsford police, said: "We're monitoring the situation. It was obviously there for an unlawful purpose. We don't know what happened but there is a suggestion there that it could be quite sinister."
Published Thursday, June 5, 2003
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