Police have launched a high-scale search for a convicted murderer who has escaped from a countryside prison.
Former Royal aide Jane Andrews was discovered missing from HMP East Sutton Park, where she is an inmate, during a roll-check at 8pm on Sunday (November 22).
The 40-year-old, who was once a dresser for the Duchess of York, was given a life sentence for killing her boyfriend Tom Cressman in 2000, by stabbing him with a knife and battering him with a cricket bat for refusing to marry her.
The Ministry of Justice confirmed the murderer has absconded from the open prison and is working with the police to find her.
It is has been reported the prisoner, who authorities describe as “vulnerable”, had just come off suicide watch following an overdose of paracetamol tablets on Thursday (November 19) - which left her needing hospital treatment.
Andrews has a fair complexion, very long straight brown hair and is of slim build. She was wearing a long sleeved black and white striped top, black jeans, a black body warmer and black sketcher trainers when she disappeared.
It is believed Andrews had recently been moved to the Maidstone-based prison, but the Ministry of Justice insists she has been kept in open conditions since July.
Ex-Det Supt Jim Dickie, who led the original murder investigation, told The Sun newspaper: “It just beggars belief that a murderess is in an open prison.
“Knowing the mindset of Jane Andrews I think she has planned this.”
Her victim’s brother Rick, 58, told the national paper: “She has moved to an open prison and what has she done?
“It was too early to be doing it. I suspect she will try and leave the country.”
Andrews was sentenced to service 15 years in jail, but that was reduced to 12 and she would have been eligible for parole in 2012.
The inmate’s escape comes just days after it was revealed she planned to sell pictures created for her by the Duchess’ children – Princess Beatrice and Eugenie.
Friends have told another newspaper she calls the paintings her “pension”, despite still owning a £600,000 flat in Battersea, South London, which earns her savings of £30,000 a year from renting it out.
The Ministry of Defense is expected to launch a full investigation into the security breach.
Anyone with information on Andrews’ whereabouts is asked to contact Mid Kent police on 01622 690055 or Missing People on 0500 700 700.
POSTED: 24/11/2009 09:51:36
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