Police ask public to help locate prison escapee

Police are asking for the public's help to locate a man who went missing from HMP Leyhill in South Gloucestershire.

Sean Cawthray, aged 41 was last seen on Sunday (December 30th) at HMP Leyhill at about 5.30pm and is thought to have left the prison sometime before 8.30pm.

He was reported missing and police enquiries have been underway since to locate him.

He has links to Leicestershire, Yorkshire, London and the South West and it is possible he may have travelled from the south west to one of these areas.

He is described as a white man, 5ft 9ins to 5ft 11ins tall, of medium build with short brown hair and blue eyes. When last seen he was wearing a pair of silver coloured training shoes, cream coloured combat trousers and a light blue coloured Helly Hansen type top. He may have been wearing either a worker's fluorescent jacket, grey jacket with orange patches or black jacket with a blue patch.

Anyone spotting Sean Cawthray is advised not to approach him but to contact police immediately on 999.

DI Jill Kells of South Gloucestershire CID said: "We are committed to locating, returning to custody and charging anyone unlawfully at large. Officers work closely with HMP Leyhill and other police forces to track down absconders promptly and keep any potential risk to the public to a minimum."