‘Do not approach convicted murderer’

THE public have been warned not to approach a convicted murderer who is being hunted by police.

Christopher Paul, pictured, who murdered a retired teacher at his home in a “callous” killing in 1992, has breached his conditions since being released from prison on licence in 2016.

Paul 45, from Caerphilly, was released from HMP Parc Prison on June 21, 2016, 24 years after he was convicted of murdering former art teacher Aneurin Caradog Williams.

Mr Williams, 63, was found at his home in Llanbradach, Caerphilly, with had his hands tied behind his back, a wire noose was round his neck and his body had been brutally beaten.

The former council chairman had died as a result of suffocation and pressure.

Gwent Police revealed on Tuesday that they are looking for Paul after he breached his conditions and that he is being recalled to prison.

A spokeswoman has now warned the public not to approach Paul who has spent almost his entire adult life behind bars.

She said: “The risk to the public is considered to be low at this time however, due to the nature of Christopher Paul’s previous conviction, we would advise members of the public not to approach him and to contact us immediately if they see him or they know where is.”

She said Paul was known to “frequent central Caerphilly”.

Paul, who was 20 at the time of the murder was sentenced along with his 17-year-old accomplice, Jason Soal, then of Graig-Y-Racha near Machen.

Soal later went on to bind a mother with masking tape in front of her three-year-old daughter during a burglary in 2013 after being released from prison on licence in 2004.

During Paul’s trial for Mr Williams’ murder, the jury heard how he and Soal hatched a plot to rob the former teacher at his home. They ransacked the house, tortured him and left him to die.

When sentencing Paul, Mr Justice Simon Brown said: “You left your victim to die shackled and gagged with a noose round his neck.

“You knew he was elderly, living alone and had substantial cash hidden away.”

Anyone with information is asked to call Gwent Police on 101 quoting log number 1800117221 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.