A SEARCH is continuing for a child killer who escaped from Worcestershire prison on Monday.

Alan Giles, aged 56, is currently serving two life sentences at HMP Hewell in Redditch for the kidnap and murder of 16-year-old Kevin Ricketts from Quinton, Birmingham, in 1995.

It is unclear why he left the prison on the morning of October 28 but police are concerned about his state of mind.

Officers believe he could be sleeping rough in woodland, barns or outbuildings and have said anyone harbouring him could be committing a crime.

He is described as a white man, 5ft 9in tall with short grey hair and blue eyes. He has a scar on his forehead and a tattoo of an eagle on the back and a swallow, shark and flower on his left arm.

He is thought to be wearing a grey Rocksport sweater, blue jeans and white Asics trainers and may be using public transport.

Detective Chief Inspector Paul Judge said Giles may be using barns or outbuildings for shelter and urged anyone who thinks they may have seen Giles to contact police immediately.

“We are working closely with colleagues in Warwickshire and West Midlands Police forces, as well as the prison service,” he said. “We have safeguarding measures in place for the victim’s family and police family liaison officers are speaking to them, as well as Giles’ friends and family.”

He added police are concentrating search efforts in the Redditch and South Warwickshire areas, although he also has friends and family elsewhere in the West Midlands.

“We are carrying out extensive searches to trace Giles and want to return him to custody as soon as possible. We would like to thank the public for their help so far in this matter.

“We have had a good response to our appeals but we urgently need more information to help us find Giles.”

Anyone with any information about his whereabouts is asked to call 101 and ask for Redditch CID.