A convicted sex offender and cult leader has escaped by helicopter from a prison on the French Indian Ocean island of Reunion, officials say.
Juliano Verbard, 27, serving a 15-year term, and two followers, were pulled on to the helicopter by three accomplices.
The three had pretended to be tourists when they boarded the helicopter, but then forced the pilot to land in the prison grounds before flying off again.
They then landed a few hundred metres away, and drove off in a waiting van.
...whereupon Mr. Verbard welcomed a fluffy white cat onto his lap, stroked it, and proclaimed, "Yes, my plan has come together perfectly!"