Topen escaped while receiving treatment in hospital

Gordon Topen, who is serving a life sentence, is still on the run after escaping from the Walsgrave hospital, in Coventry on Friday night.

He was undergoing a blood transfusion when he escaped from custody officers.

Andrew Rosindell, MP for Romford, in Essex, says steps need to be taken to find out how he escaped.

'Deeply worrying'

Mr Rosindell's comments also follow a mix-up at a Scottish court on Thursday which led to the mistaken release of another convicted murderer.

"That two prisoners were allowed to scarper in such a short space of time is deeply worrying," he said.

"The safety of the public is now in question and the government needs to review this urgently and take whatever steps necessary to ensure this doesn't happen again."

West Midlands Police believe Topen could have returned to London, where he grew up, and are liaising with the Metropolitan Police in an attempt to track him down.

The 33-year-old is considered to be highly dangerous and members of the public are being warned not to approach him.

He was jailed in 1992 for stabbing a man 19 times after he suspected him of having an affair with his girlfriend.

He had been at the Coventry Hospital since Wednesday and police say he escaped after asking to use the toilet, despite prison guidelines dictating that he had to be handcuffed.

He is described as white, about 6ft 6in, of stocky build with short greyish hair and was last seen wearing a white T-shirt and blue jogging trousers.

It is the third escape in three years from the custody of Rye Hill Prison.