Police are trying to trace a Hollesley Bay prisoner who failed to return following a period of home leave.

Police are trying to trace a prisoner who failed to return following a period of home leave.

Connor Shand, 22, is the third inmate to abscond from Hollesley Bay open prison this month.

Suffolk police were contacted just after 1am today by prison officers, who reported that Shand, who was serving six years for aggravated burglary, had gone missing while on home leave.

Since then, officers have made checks at two possible addresses where he might have been in Essex, but Shand was not at either of them.

He is described as 6ft 2ins tall, of thin build with dark brown hair and brown eyes and he has a scar to the top of his forehead. He has connections to the Harlow and Basildon areas of Essex.

Police have warned the public not to approach Shand or take any action but have urged anyone with information to get in touch.

Earlier this month it was revealed that the Prison Officers’ Association claimed drugs, bullying and a prison population crisis were to blame for the number of Hollesley Bay inmates going on the run almost doubling in the past three years.

Ministry of Justice figures show 25 inmates at the open prison either absconded or did not return from approved leave in 2012/13. In 2010/11 there were 13 prisoners who left the prison but failed to come back.

Anyone with information on Shand’s whereabouts can call Suffolk Constabulary on 101 or contact their nearest police station.