Police swoop as prisoner on the run sighted in town
A THUG who slit the throat of a man during a brawl is still on the run from prison following a reported sighting in Hinckley last week, police have said.
Gavin Owens, 33, absconded from an open prison in Suffolk on August 7, where he was serving a sentence for attempted murder.
On Wednesday, officers, a police helicopter and the dog unit swooped on Hinckley following a reported sighting of Owens in the town.
Police scoured the area for several hours but Owens could not be found.
Leicestershire Police and Suffolk Police have launched a fresh appeal to trace the man and warned he could be in Hinckley.
People are warned not to approach Owens and to contact police immediately if they see him or know his whereabouts.
A Leicestershire Police spokesman said: “Police attended the Hinckley area on Wednesday evening after reports were received in relation to potential sightings of a absconded prisoner from Suffolk.
“The police helicopter and the dog unit assisted officers in search- es but no one was located. “Enquiries are ongoing.” “Owens has links to the Hinckley area of Leicestershire.
“Police are asking anyone who may have seen him or anyone with information about where he is now to contact officers.
“You should not approach him or take any further action.”
Owens, who is also known as Gavin Burrell, absconded from an open prison in Hollesley Bay overnight.
He was serving an indeterminate sentence for attempted murder, causing grievous bodily harm and actual bodily harm following an attack on Steven Wakefield outside the Dog and Gun pub, on Mansion Street, Hinckley, on December 30 2008.
Steven Wakefield was punched in the face by Owens, causing him to bang his head on the ground and lose consciousness, where he was then attacked by two other people.
He was later hunted down and ran over by a Jeep driven by his attackers at a taxi rank, before Owens slit his throat.
Owens is described as white, 5ft 11in tall, medium build, with green eyes and very short brown hair.
He has several tattoos including a Celtic band on his right upper arm.