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Anger as inmate flees open prison | Anger as inmate flees open prison |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Demands to know why a violent robber with 100 previous offences who has absconded from an open prison was there in the first place have been made. | |
Andrew Clifford Phillips, 40, who was jailed for 11 years in 2005, has failed to return to Prescoed in Monmouthshire. | Andrew Clifford Phillips, 40, who was jailed for 11 years in 2005, has failed to return to Prescoed in Monmouthshire. |
Conservative MP David Davies said it was a disgrace he was there so soon after sentencing. | |
But the Ministry of Justice said open prisons were to help offenders reintegrate into society on release. | |
It does seem very unusual that someone who has served so short a distance into a sentence should be moved to an open prison Jenny Willott MP, Liberal Democrat | It does seem very unusual that someone who has served so short a distance into a sentence should be moved to an open prison Jenny Willott MP, Liberal Democrat |
Phillips was convicted of mugging a 50-year-old man in Cardiff Bay, who fell back onto the pavement and was left unable to walk. | Phillips was convicted of mugging a 50-year-old man in Cardiff Bay, who fell back onto the pavement and was left unable to walk. |
The prosecution called it a "senseless attack" and the judge said it had a "catastrophic effect" on the victim. | The prosecution called it a "senseless attack" and the judge said it had a "catastrophic effect" on the victim. |
Mr Davies, who represents Monmouth, said Phillips, from Pentwyn, Cardiff, should not have been moved to the open prison less than three years into an 11-year sentence. | Mr Davies, who represents Monmouth, said Phillips, from Pentwyn, Cardiff, should not have been moved to the open prison less than three years into an 11-year sentence. |
He will write to the Justice Minister David Hanson to ask why Phillips was in an open prison. | He will write to the Justice Minister David Hanson to ask why Phillips was in an open prison. |
"The normal process is that people aren't sent to open prisons until the end of their sentence," he said. | "The normal process is that people aren't sent to open prisons until the end of their sentence," he said. |
"Nobody should be going in there with more than 12 months to run. This man has served two years of an 11-year sentence for a violent crime. | "Nobody should be going in there with more than 12 months to run. This man has served two years of an 11-year sentence for a violent crime. |
"These prisons are no punishment. It's a disgrace." | "These prisons are no punishment. It's a disgrace." |
Gwent Police has warned the public not to approach Phillips, who is not a sex offender, and said it was believed there may be a potential risk due to the fact that he is no longer in the custody of the prison service. | Gwent Police has warned the public not to approach Phillips, who is not a sex offender, and said it was believed there may be a potential risk due to the fact that he is no longer in the custody of the prison service. |
'Senseless attack' | 'Senseless attack' |
Jenny Willott, the Liberal Democrat MP for Cardiff Central, which includes Pentwyn, said that while open prisons can be a "valuable part of rehabilitation", she was "stunned" that Phillips had been moved so soon. | Jenny Willott, the Liberal Democrat MP for Cardiff Central, which includes Pentwyn, said that while open prisons can be a "valuable part of rehabilitation", she was "stunned" that Phillips had been moved so soon. |
"It does seem very unusual that someone who has served so short a distance into a sentence should be moved to an open prison," she said. | "It does seem very unusual that someone who has served so short a distance into a sentence should be moved to an open prison," she said. |
A spokeswoman for the Ministry of Justice would not comment on individual cases but said: "To release prisoners directly from a closed prison without the resettlement benefits of the open estate would undoubtedly lead to higher levels of post-release re-offending." | A spokeswoman for the Ministry of Justice would not comment on individual cases but said: "To release prisoners directly from a closed prison without the resettlement benefits of the open estate would undoubtedly lead to higher levels of post-release re-offending." |
She said the level of absconding was at a 10-year low per head of prison population and that prisoners moving through their sentence may be re-categorised and allocated to open conditions when their risk has been assessed as having reduced sufficiently. | She said the level of absconding was at a 10-year low per head of prison population and that prisoners moving through their sentence may be re-categorised and allocated to open conditions when their risk has been assessed as having reduced sufficiently. |
Gwent Police say Phillips is white, medium build, 1.75m tall with cropped hair and has tattoos on his neck and forearm. | Gwent Police say Phillips is white, medium build, 1.75m tall with cropped hair and has tattoos on his neck and forearm. |
He was last seen wearing a blue Next t-shirt, blue Wrangler jeans and black and silver Nike trainers. | He was last seen wearing a blue Next t-shirt, blue Wrangler jeans and black and silver Nike trainers. |
Anyone with information is asked to call Gwent Police on 01633 838111. | Anyone with information is asked to call Gwent Police on 01633 838111. |
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