A murderer who escaped from a mental health unit has appeared in court charged with being unlawfully at large.

Lerone Boye, 27, of no fixed abode, was sentenced to 28 years in prison in December 2012 for the stabbing of 17-year-old teenager Kelvin Chibueze in Ilford in 2011.

However he escaped from the John Howard Centre, a mental health unit, in Homerton on October 16, but was arrested on January 21 in Elderberry Close, Chigwell, during a police operation.

Boye appeared at Snaresbrook Crown Court on Friday and will appear again on March 10 to enter his plea.

Dean Ablakwa, 29, from north London, is charged with helping Boye escape and possession of a class B drug.

He appeared at the court yesterday and pleaded not guilty, and will appear again to stand trial on April 23.

The Met and Crimestoppers offered a combined reward of £15,000 for Boye’s capture.