Former inmate accused of breaking into jail

A FORMER prison inmate has appeared in court over an unusual type of jailbreak.

• A former inmate has been accused of breaking into several jails across New York

• Registered sex offender Matthew Matagrano, 36, faked credentials and mingled with inmates

Matthew Matagrano, 36, is accused of conning his way into several prisons in New York, mingling with inmates and impersonating a Department of Corrections Investigator.

The convicted sex offender is also accused of stealing a radio from a prison office.

The 36-year-old, from the Yonkers area of the city, allegedly used forged ID to gain access to several jails, including Rikers Island and Manhattan Detention Centre.

In one alleged incident. Matagrano sneaked his way into Manhattan Detention Centre and handed out cigarettes to prisoners, smoking with them until 11pm. He gained entry by masquerading as an investigator from the Department of Corrections.

Footage of the incident was caught by CCTV cameras in the prison.

Matagrano has a criminal record that includes a conviction for sodomy and sexual abuse, and is a registered sex offender.