By Danielle NuttallCrime CorrespondentA HUNT has been launched for a prisoner, whom police described as "violent", after he absconded from an East Anglian jail.

By Danielle Nuttall

Crime Correspondent

A HUNT has been launched for a prisoner, whom police described as "violent", after he absconded from an East Anglian jail.

James Arthur Yardley, 60, was serving a six-and-a-half year sentence for false imprisonment at Hollesley Bay Prison, near Woodbridge.

The prisoner, who is known to have connections in north Essex, is believed to have absconded from the unit between 7am and 8.30am yesterday.

Yardley is the latest prisoner to have absconded from Hollesley Bay Prison since August 2000. Seven of those to escape were serving time for murder.

In August 2000 Liverpudlian James Howey, who was jailed in 1981 for killing his best friend with an axe, absconded from the jail with fellow murderer Michael Boyd, 49, from Leeds.

Boyd was arrested the day after his escape, but Howey remained on the run for several months before giving himself up.

In April 2002, George Geogiades, 46, who was jailed for murdering his ex-wife, disappeared from the prison's dairy at 8.45am.

In May 2002, convicted killer John Roff, 41, failed to return from day release in Ipswich and two months later convicted killer James Young also absconded. Young has always protested his innocence.

Yardley was described as white, 5ft 6in tall, of normal build with grey hair, brown eyes and tattoos on his right shoulder and left forearm.

He is thought to have been wearing a brown leather coat at the time he left the unit.

Police urged anyone who knows of Yardley's present whereabouts not to approach him, but to alert officers immediately by dialling 999.

Anyone with information should contact Woodbridge police on 01473 613500.

danielle.nuttall@eadt.co.uk