Hove burglar missing from Ford Prison

A man jailed for burgling a home in Hove has absconded from Ford Prison in West Sussex.

Craig Hayler, 30, is one of dozens of inmates missing from the open prison and among the most recent to go on the run.

Sussex Police said that it had “decided to proactively publish the names and crimes of those who have absconded from the prison whose convictions were for violent offences”.

The force said: “Three of the men were jailed for murder and the others were jailed for violence or robbery.”

It published details on its website www.sussex.police.uk of eight of those who have disappeared from the prison.

Hayler absconded from Ford on Monday 10 March. He was jailed for 30 months in December 2012 for breaking into a property in Poplar Avenue in Hove.

Craig Hayler

Sussex Police said: “Hayler has a series of convictions for burglary, theft and fraud offences.”

He was previously described as white with olive or tanned skin, 5ft 10in tall and of muscular build, with short brown hair and designer facial stubble.

Superintendent Lawrence Hobbs said: “We have assessed the cases of each and every prisoner who is currently wanted after absconding from Ford Prison and decided these men need our attention the most, considering how likely they could be to commit more crimes.

“We have no evidence that any of these men are a danger to the public but because of the offences they have previously committed we cannot rule it out.

“We need the public’s help to track each and every one of them down and return them to custody.

“Some of the men may have absconded a number of years ago and may not have broken the law since then but justice has not been done in any of their cases as they still need to complete the sentences they were originally given.

“If you have any information at all about where they could be, please contact us.”

Sussex Police said: “The Ministry of Justice determines which prisoners should be sent to Ford.”

One prisoner on the run, Timothy O’Leary, 59, was jailed for life for the murder of a fellow traveller in Nuneaton, Warwickshire, in September 1981.

O’Leary, who also uses the name Timothy McCarthy, absconded from Ford Prison 17 years ago – in March 1997.

Another absconder Christopher Street, 62, walked out of Ford more than 12 years ago – in November 2001.

He was jailed for seven years at Croydon Crown Court in August 1999 after being convicted of conspiracy to rob and firearms offences. He already had convictions for burglary and firearms offences.

Anyone with information about any of the men is asked to phone Sussex Police on 101, email 101@sussex.pnn.police.uk or call the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.