Police believe missing prisoner Alan Giles is in Alcester

Latest information has led detectives to increase police resources in Alcester and step up their man hunt in surrounding areas.

Specialist search officers and dogs are also being deployed to trace 56-year-old Giles who left HMP Hewell, near Redditch, on Monday morning (October 28).

Giles could be sleeping rough or hiding out in farm buildings so farmers, dog walkers and other local people are being urged to stay alert and report any sightings of him.

Giles is described as a white man, 5ft 9 ins tall, with short grey hair and blue eyes. He has an eagle tattoo on his back and other tattoos of a shark, swallow and flower on his left arm.

He is believed to be wearing blue jeans, a grey Rockport sweater and white Asics trainers.

Det Chief Insp Paul Judge, said: “Alan Giles was at HMP Hewell serving two life sentences for the kidnap and murder of 16-year-old Quinton student Kevin Ricketts in 1995. Anyone who spots him in the Alcester area or elsewhere is advised not to approach him but to call police at Redditch urgently by dialling 999.

“We are carrying out extensive searches to find Giles and we are leaving no stone unturned in our investigation.

“We would like to reassure the Alcester community and other people living nearby that there are a number of officers out and about in the area and we are doing all we can to get Alan Giles back in custody as soon as possible.”

Anyone with information about Giles’ whereabouts should call 101 and ask for Redditch CID.

In an emergency always call 999.