Missing murderer found by police

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A convicted murderer who absconded from Prescoed open prison in Monmouthshire in July has been found in the Channel islands.

Lee Dewhurst, 35, from Rochdale, Greater Manchester was found in Jersey and arrested by police.

A search began for Dewhurst, who was jailed in 1992, after he failed to return to the prison on 11 July.

Gwent Police officers are travelling to Jersey. Dewhurst is expected to face a charge of escaping from lawful custody.

He was the prison's seventh inmate to abscond in the past three months.

RECENT MISSING PRISONERS <i>11 July</i> - Lee Dewhurst - convicted of murder - arrested Jersey, 21st September<i>28 July </i>- John Elms and Martin Aspinall - child sex offences - arrested near Usk, 30 July<i>29 July</i> - Marc Barnett - burglary - arrested 30 July near Usk<i>3 August </i>- 44-year-old - grievous bodily harm - arrested 8 August<i>17 August </i>- 33-year-old unnamed man - dishonesty and driving offences - still missing<i>3 September </i>- Harvey Willets - drug offences - still missing

There was criticism that despite him not returning to the prison in July, local people were not told about it until September.

Gwent Police has since reviewed its policy for publicising details of absconded prisoners.

During his disappearance, police warned the public not to approach Dewhurst, who was jailed for life at Liverpool Crown Court.

West Yorkshire Police also wanted to speak to Dewhurst in connection with a series of robberies targeting gay men in York, Huddersfield and Halifax.

Police also revealed last week that Graham Dean, 60, convicted of murder in 1981, failed to return to the prison in June. He is not considered a risk.

The Gwent force said convicted burglar Tony Cowley, 43, is still listed as missing after failing to return to Prescoed in January 2001.