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Violent robber Sabul Miah, 39, captured after going on the run from Standford Hill open prison on the Isle of Sheppey

A violent robber who went on the run from an open jail is back in custody after being arrested.

Officers were called to HMP Standford Hill on the Isle of Sheppey last Thursday.

Sabul Miah, 39, was given two life sentences in 2003 for violent knife attacks on pensioners.

Convicted robber Sabul Miah reportedly on the run from HMP Standford Hill on the Isle of Sheppey
Convicted robber Sabul Miah reportedly on the run from HMP Standford Hill on the Isle of Sheppey

But he was arrested last night on Sheppey on suspicion of failing to surrender to custody.

HMP Standford Hill is a category D jail and where an armed robber known as the Skull Cracker went missing from in May.

Michael Wheatley, 55, was serving 13 life sentences for a string of brutal raids on banks and spent four days on the run before targeting a building society in Surrey.

Prison stock image.
Prison stock image.

Wheatley was given another life sentence after admitting the £13,000 raid on the Sunbury-on-Thames building society while being hunted by Kent Police officers.

A Ministry of Justice spokesman said before he was re-captured: "Public protection is our top priority and we have tightened the eligibility for open prisons, following a comprehensive review.

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

Michael Wheatley went missing from HMP Standford Hill
Michael Wheatley went missing from HMP Standford Hill

"Absconds have reached record lows under this Government — falling by more than 80% in the last 10 years — and more than 99% of releases on temporary licence continue to pass without incident, but we have not been complacent and have made major changes to tighten the system."

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