POLICE have made a direct appeal to a convicted child killer from the West Midlands to hand himself in after he absconded from prison while serving two life sentences for kidnap and murder.

Alan John Giles, 56, fled from an "open" section of HMP Hewell, near Redditch, Worcestershire, on Monday, West Mercia Police said.

Giles, originally from Oldbury, was jailed in 1997 at Birmingham Crown Court for murdering 16-year-old Kevin Ricketts in 1995.

At the time of Giles' trial, the body of the victim, a student from Quinton, near Birmingham, had not been found.

Chief Inspector Paul Judge of West Mercia Police said today: “We are concerned as Giles has been missing since Monday morning and we are urging the public to help us find him as soon as possible by reporting any sightings of him immediately.

“We are concerned about his state of mind as a result of information we have received after he went missing and I would like to take this opportunity to appeal to him to hand himself in directly to the nearest police station or contact us by phone so that we can resolve this matter.”

Appealing for the public's help to trace Giles, Detective Inspector John Cashion, of West Mercia Police, said: "We have a dedicated investigation team working expeditiously to locate and apprehend Giles and to that end we are also liaising with our colleagues in West Midlands Police and in the Prison Service.

"We have information that gives us concern for his welfare and it is important that we trace him as soon as possible.

"It should be borne in mind that Giles was in an open part of the prison when he went missing.

"However we would appeal to anyone who sees him not to approach him but to contact police immediately on 999.

"Furthermore, we would urge anyone who may be helping him or sheltering him to contact us without delay."

Giles, who has had recent contact with family in the West Midlands, is described as white, 5ft 9ins, and of proportionate build with short grey hair and blue eyes.

He has tattoos of an eagle on his back and a swallow, shark and flower on his left arm.

It is believed Giles is wearing a grey Rockport sweater, blue jeans and white Asics trainers.

Kevin's body was found in 1998, buried in the garden of a property in Edgbaston, Birmingham, after Giles was interviewed by detectives while serving his sentence.

Giles, a former labourer, killed the teenager in an apparent revenge attack after his victim's elder sister ended their relationship.

Kevin is believed to have been abducted while en route to classes at South Birmingham College in January 1995, shortly after leaving his home.