AN MP is demanding answers after a violent robber from Bradford fled from an open prison.

Almas Ullah, 27, of Great Horton, absconded from HMP Sudbury in Derbyshire, last Friday evening and remained at large last night.

Police are warning the public not to approach him.

Derbyshire Police are linking up with colleagues in Bradford in a bid to locate the fugitive.

Ullah and an accomplice were given indefinite jail sentences in 2008 after admitting a string of violent robberies, which included using a Samurai sword, knives and a golf club to terrorise staff at two Bradford filling stations, and being part of a robbery gang which threatened to shoot the manager at a bookmakers' shop.

The pair were captured at a house in Bradford by armed police after carrying out almost 100 terrifying raids.

Ullah told officers: "I'm not apologising for being bad. It is obviously in my blood."

He was given an indeterminate prison sentence for public protection by the then Recorder of Bradford, Judge Stephen Gullick, who told Ullah he would have to serve at least five years and 274 days behind bars before the Parole Board could begin to consider whether it was safe to release him.

He told the pair: "The public needs protecting from you."

Yesterday, Shipley Conservative MP Philip Davies said he would be highlighting, and asking questions about, the case.

Mr Davies said: "If you are going to have open prisons, surely they shouldn't be full of dangerous people like this, who can simply walk out through the gates at any time.

"The police intervention makes a mockery of the claims by the Ministry of Justice that the only people going to open prisons are those rehabilitated for release who are not a danger to the public.

"The police have said the public should not approach him. I feel that under no circumstances should this man be in an open prison.

"This is an issue I raise all the time with the MoJ and I will keep raising it. It increases the risk of someone being a victim of serious crime. The whole system is a complete joke."

Ullah is described as of mixed race, 6ft tall, slim, with brown hair, and his front teeth are missing.

Police urge anyone with information about his whereabouts not to approach him, but to contact them immediately, or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.

A spokesman for the Ministry of Justice said Ullah had been recommended for an open prison by the Parole Board after being assessed.

She said: ""It is clear that open prisons and temporary licence are important tools in rehabilitating long-term offenders but they will not be used at the expense of public safety.

"Absconds have reached record lows under this Government — falling by more than 80 per cent in the last ten years — but we have not been complacent and have made major changes to tighten the system.

"Following a comprehensive review we have tightened the eligibility for open prisons and will be bringing in world-leading technology so we can monitor their whereabouts and help lower the numbers further.”

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