Inmate makes run for it while officer chases another escapee

In a mad rush to chase down a fence-jumping escapee a Romanian police officer inadvertently allowed another prisoner to make a dash for freedom.

The opportunistic getaway took place as two inmates were being escorted from a courthouse to a police van to take them back to jail.

Footage of the incident posted online last week shows a police officer walking ahead of the men, who are not wearing handcuffs.

Suddenly one of the prisoners sees an opportunity to escape and seizes it.

The inmate makes a run for it, nimbly scaling a fence and jumping into the street outside the court compound.

The officer immediately gives chase, sliding open a large metal gate and disappearing behind it, leaving it wide open.

The prisoner still inside the compound then decides to try his luck as well and walks through the open gate before breaking into a sprint.

The footage shows the officer pursuing the first escapee as the second runs for his life.

The first prisoner to try and escape was reportedly caught while the second remains on the run.

A second police officer who was supposed to help escort the men appears at the end of the video.