Preston murderer Thomas Parkinson held after fleeing HMP Kirkham
- Published
Thomas Parkinson was arrested by police in Southport
A murderer who absconded from an open prison has been arrested after almost three weeks on the run.
Thomas Parkinson, 31, from Preston was serving the final two years of a life sentence when he fled HMP Kirkham in Lancashire on 24 April.
He was convicted as a teenager in 2007 for stabbing Shaun Higgins, 23, at a house party.
Lancashire Police said he was detained in Southport on Sunday by officers from Merseyside Police.
Fylde MP Mark Menzies had criticised Lancashire Police for taking a week to make his disappearance public, saying he had written to Ch Con Andy Rhodes and prison governor Derek Harrison "to seek answers".
In response, the force said that a public appeal had to be considered in terms of being "relevant, proportionate and necessary" by investigating officers.