The grandmother of Alvone Maybury's child yesterday begged the fugitive to turn himself in — for his own sake and the sake of his toddler son.

In a direct appeal to the 24-year-old, who gave prison officers the slip on July 13, Leasser Swan said: "The easiest way out is to give yourself in. You can call me and I can set it up [with Police] and I'll be there to make sure they do it right."

She told The Royal Gazette: "He needs to do it for his safety and for my grandson to have a daddy. I want him to listen to me, to come to grips that there is nowhere to run, no matter where he goes. His pictures are worldwide."

Grief-stricken Mrs. Swan, whose three-year-old son Stanwondae died on June 27 after being pulled from the water at Kindley Field Road, St. George's, is deeply worried about her daughter Malisa's ex-boyfriend.

He was charged with three gun offences before he ran away from prison guards as they led him from Magistrates' Court. Hours later, he was updating his Facebook page with information about life on the run, sparking international headlines.

Mrs. Swan, 42, became close to him when he lived in the family home with Malisa and the couple's son Amir, now aged three. Maybury lost both parents when he was young and referred to Mrs. Swan as "Aunt Leasser". Although she eventually asked him to leave, they remained friends even after his relationship with her 22-year-old daughter ended and she visited him when he was on remand at Westgate.

"He's always been a person that raised himself," she said. "I always gave him advice. I feel sorry for him because everybody needs someone. My daddy died when I was eight. I don't want my grandson to go through what he's been through with no parents. But I'm not going to jeopardise my life with harbouring him. At the same time, if I can advise him to do something sensible, I will.

"He hasn't called me, nothing. I want to tell him that the same ones that are trying to go on Facebook and telling you not to do the right thing is the ones who will laugh when you are caught."

She urged Maybury: "Do it for me, if you care about me, and do it for Amir. He [Alvone] knows I'm mourning. [He can] call me if he wants to and I will work with him if he wants to turn himself in."

Police broke down the door of Mrs. Swan's home on Princess Street on July 14 in a bid to find Maybury. Yesterday she said she understood officers had a job to do but did not like the way they had done it. "I wish it could have been handled differently. Maybe if I didn't get my door kicked off, he probably would have called me by now.

"Now I'm just giving it a shot, hoping he will trust me."

Speaking to this newspaper at the hot dog stand she runs with her mother and sister near Elbow Beach, Mrs. Swan said her grandson wasn't aware his father was on the run.

The tot was close in age to Stanwondae, whose nickname was Miracle, because he survived being born prematurely at just over 26 weeks.

Mrs. Swan and husband Stanley, 49, who have been together since high school and married for 18 years, are struggling to cope with the loss of Miracle. The couple also have a four-year-old daughter and 11-year-old son.

"Everybody tells me how strong I am," said Mrs. Swan. "I feel like a wall that's ready to crumble. I cry every morning. I grew that baby from one pound. He sat in the palm of my hand. It hurts."

• Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Maybury should call Police on 295-0011 or the confidential Crime Stoppers number 800-8477.