UK-based Ghanaian rapper escapes police custody twice in one week

A 21‑year‑old London‑based Ghanaian drill rapper, identified as Daniel Boakye, remains at large after escaping police custody for the second time in one week, police have confirmed.

Boakye, who performs under the stage name DSAVV, is wanted by the Metropolitan Police after fleeing from University Hospital in Lewisham on Sunday afternoon.

Police said Boakye was receiving medical treatment when he made his escape at about 3:05 pm. Officers gave chase, but he was not apprehended before leaving the hospital grounds.

In a social media video circulating online yesterday evening, a man believed to be Boakye appears in footage alongside a television screen displaying a news report about his escape. In the clip, the individual boasts about breaking out of custody and taunts law enforcement while performing a rap.

In the video, the man is reported to have said, “I just broke out of jail … I’m a legend,” while dismissing the efforts of the police.

A Metropolitan Police spokesperson said authorities are actively searching for Boakye, who is described as a Black male of medium height and slim build. He was last seen wearing grey tracksuit bottoms and a dark Nike jacket.

Boakye was previously arrested at an address in Thamesmead earlier this week, but managed to abscond from custody. Court records show that he was sentenced in July 2023 for a series of knifepoint robberies across London. The offences included threatening victims and forcing them to hand over mobile phones and banking passcodes, which were then used to withdraw funds from their accounts.

The Metropolitan Police said its Directorate of Professional Standards is reviewing the circumstances surrounding Boakye’s escape from hospital.

Members of the public with information on his whereabouts are urged to contact police immediately.