POLICE are appealing for help to trace a man who has absconded from HMP Leyhill in South Gloucestershire.

Dean Evans was found to be missing from the open prison just before 6pm on Monday, 21 April. His absence was reported to the police shortly afterwards.

He is aged 36 and described as white, about 5ft 6ins tall, of small build, with blue eyes and cropped brown hair.

He sometimes wears a brown beard and has a pierced left ear and scars on his face and right arm.

Evans, from Hampshire, was originally jailed for offences of threats to kill, assault and criminal damage in Southampton in 2006. He was recalled to prison in 2011 after breaching the terms of his release on licence.

He may be heading towards Hampshire, possibly travelling by train or hitch-hiking on the motorways.

Anyone with information about where he is should contact Avon and Somerset police by calling 101 and quoting reference MP1216/14.

Police are advising anyone who does see him not to approach him but call 999 immediately.