Search for prisoner who absconded at Christmas

Police have appealed for help to find a man who absconded from an open prison at Christmas.

Thames Valley Police said Mahad Elmi left HMP Spring Hill, at Grendon Underwood, near Aylesbury in Buckinghamshire, overnight on Christmas Day or early on Boxing Day.

The force said the 27-year-old no longer had "any authority or lawful licence to be in the community and is therefore considered unlawfully at large".

Police described him as 5ft 8ins tall, of medium build with medium-length black hair, a beard and brown eyes. He was known to have links to London, includingto Lambeth and Wembley.

The force said it was working with the Metropolitan Police to find Elmi.

Det Sgt Matthew French, of Buckinghamshire's Priority Crime Team, said: "If you see Elmi, do not approach him and call 999 instead."

A Ministry of Justice spokesperson said: "Absconding is a serious criminal offence, and any defendant who commits this crime could face longer behind bars.

"The police are working urgently to recapture this individual, and we urge anyone with information to go to the police."

HMP Spring Hill, which has more than 300 inmates, is classed as Category D.

According to the Prison Service, that means it has "minimal security and allow(s) eligible prisoners to spend most of their day away from the prison on licence to carry out work, education or for other resettlement purposes".

Anyone who can help should call 101 quoting reference number 43250653119.

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