Four prisoners in four days go missing from HMP Sudbury

David Blood, Tony Bennett, Jamie Hill and Scott Prince (clockwise from top left) are all missing from HMP Sudbury

Four inmates have gone missing from an open prison in Derbyshire over a four-day period, it has emerged.

Two of the men walked out of HMP Sudbury on the same day and two failed to return after being granted temporary release.

Their offences include wounding with intent and conspiracy to rob, and one was serving a life sentence.

Concerns have previously been raised about the number of prisoners who abscond from HMP Sudbury.

The POA, formerly known as the Prison Officers' Association, has argued that too many inmates are not assessed properly before being sent there.

'Further charges'

A Prison Service spokesperson said: "Prisoners located in open conditions have been rigorously risk assessed and categorised as being of low risk to the public.

"Over 96% of prisoners who abscond are recaptured and returned to custody.

"On recapture a prisoner will be returned to a closed prison and referred to the police, where they could face further charges."

Scott Prince, 23, was released from the prison on temporary licence but failed to return on Saturday.

Prince, previously of Hasland, Chesterfield, was serving an indeterminate sentence for wounding with intent.

Two men then absconded on Sunday, leaving the prison premises without permission.

Burglary offences

One was David Blood, 46, previously of Warwick, who was given a life sentence in 2003 for conspiring to rob and firearms offences

The other was Jamie Hill, 31, previously of Sutton-in-Ashfield, in Nottinghamshire.

He was sentenced to four years and four months last year for burglary and having a bladed article.

The fourth man, Tony Bennett, failed to return from release on temporary licence on Tuesday.

The 42-year-old is from the Kings Norton area of Birmingham and was serving a five-year sentence for burglary offences.