A prisoner has escaped from a maximum security jail in Peru by drugging his twin brother who was visiting him before stealing his clothes and walking out of the gates in his place.

Alexander Jeferson Delgado Herrera, 27, was two years into a 16-year sentence at the Piedras Gordas prison, in the Ancon District of Lima Province, after being convicted of robbery and sexual assault.

He asked his twin brother, Giancarlo Steven Delgado Herrera to visit him and bring some of his favourite snacks and treats into the prison.

An hour after his twin arrived, Alexander invited Giancarlo to see his cell and, once there, reportedly offered him a drink, which sent him to sleep.

The prisoner then allegedly stripped his brother and put on his clothes, putting his own prison uniform on his twin, and walked out.

He managed to pose as his brother to pass through six internal doors manned by prison guards as well as the outside gates of the jail.

Apparently, not one of the guards noticed that he did not have the stamp on his arm given to all prison visitors to avoid such an escape from happening.

It was several hours before guards suspected that something was wrong.

They checked the fingerprints of the man in the cell and realised they had the wrong brother, reports said.

Giancarlo claims that his twin brother Alexander - who is still on the run - drugged him and that he knew nothing about the escape.

However, a police investigation has been launched and officers say that Giancarlo could face charges for being an accomplice in the escape.