The case of a convicted murderer who is on the run after absconding from a Monmouthshire prison was raised with the Home Secretary today.
Monmouth MP David Davies met with the Rt Hon Theresa May MP in Whitehall to express concern after Brian Grady, aged 26, failed to return to Category D HMP Prescoed on Monday.
Grady was convicted of killing Good Samaritan Liam Attwell when he tried to intervene in a mobile phone robbery in Bristol in 2003.
He was sentenced at Bristol Crown Court to serve at least 11 years for murder and robbery.
Mr Davies said the Home Secretary had given him a “personal assurance” that the police are doing “everything possible” to secure Grady’s recapture.
“She pointed out that the current government was not responsible for the sentence he received, which in my opinion was extraordinarily lenient given the nature of the crimes he committed,” he said.
“Grady would have been within a year or less of release and it is normal practice that prisoners coming to the end of a sentence are moved to an open prison.
“However, they should first be fully assessed and clearly in this case the assessment was wrong.
“I welcome the fact the police are taking this matter seriously and I will be contacting the Chief Constable of Gwent Police to seek assurances they will treat his recapture as a priority.”
Gwent Police believe Grady may be in the Bristol area where he has links. Members of the public are advised not to approach him but to call police if they have any information regarding his whereabouts on 01633 838111.