As the hunt continues for an armed robber on the run from prison, we can reveal he is one of FIFTEEN inmates at large after disappearing from Kent jails.

In the past decade, more than 300 prisoners have absconded in the county. The search continues for more than a dozen still on the loose - including a killer.

The Ministry of Justice released the figures following a Kent Messenger Freedom of Information request - but has refused to reveal the identities of those still missing, citing data protection laws.

Just this week, "potentially violent and dangerous" armed robber William Pearce went missing from HMP Standford Hill in the Isle of Sheppey, sparking a manhunt. He has still not been found.

The majority of the offenders still at large were serving terms for non-violent crimes, although one man had been locked up for possessing a firearm with intent and a woman was doing time for manslaughter.

Since April 2005 there have been a total of 301 incidents, 297 of which have been from Standford Hill and East Sutton Park in Maidstone.

This figure includes six murderers, 12 people convicted of GBH and three serving terms for false imprisonment, while one man's offence is unknown.

There were also two recorded escapes from magistrates' courts – in Margate in 2006 and Dartford in 2007. And last year, violent criminal Daniel McAvoy disappeared from Maidstone Magistrates' Court.

In total, 10 prisoners are still missing from Standford Hill category D facility having absconded between April 2005 and December 2008, while four women are wanted having walked from Sutton Valence’s East Sutton Park in the 16 months from April 2006. Both are open prisons.

Additionally, prisoners jailed for assisting illegal immigrants, smuggling drugs, possessing a weapon, conspiring to defraud, deception, customs evasion, trespassing with intent, contempt of court and burglary are on the run.

Among those being hunted is Monique Dwyer, now 30, who had three-and-a-half months left on a term imposed in 2004 for manslaughter when she absconded in September 2006.

Dwyer, who is known to have links to the county as well as Essex and London, reportedly stole a Mercedes at a petrol station in Essex before driving off.

The car owner, Franklin King, is said to have chased it, clinging to the bonnet in an attempt to stop her, but was thrown into the road and later died.

A police spokesman said: "When Kent Police receives a report of an absconder, it uses all available avenues to try and locate the person.

"As and when new information is received regarding an absconder, it is assessed and responded to appropriately."

In May 2014 a huge manhunt was launched after bank robber Michael "Skull Cracker" Wheatley fled from Standford Hill while on day release.

Wheatley, known by the nickname due to his habit of pistol-whipping victims, was serving 13 life sentences following 13 raids over 10 months in 2001 and 2002 while on parole from a 27-year sentence for other robberies.

The 55-year-old was on the run for five days, eventually being recaptured in east London hours after an armed raid in Surrey in which he stole £13,000 from a building society.

He was later jailed for life after admitting robbery and possessing a firearm while unlawfully at large and will serve at least 10 years in prison before he is considered for parole.

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Prisoners still on the run

Standford Hill

April 7, 2005 – Conspiracy to defraud
May 19, 2005 – Possessing an offensive weapon
November 26, 2005 – Deception
December 2, 2005 – Deception
December 3, 2005 – Trespass with intent
March 1, 2006 – Assisting illegal immigrants
March 19, 2008 – Contempt of court
June 2, 2008 – Burglary
November 11, 2008 – Possessing a firearm with intent
December 2, 2008 – Burglary

May 9, 2016 - Armed robbery

East Sutton Park

April 9, 2005 – Importing/exporting drugsApril 9, 2005 – Importing/exporting drugscorr

November 28, 2005 – Customs evasion
September 16, 2006 – Manslaughter

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