A man serving a prison sentence for wounding with intent has run off from an open prison near Bristol. Police are warning people not to approach Steven Stewart and to call 999 if they see him.
The 39-year-old was convicted at Lewes Crown Court in Sussex in 2021 for a serious offence of violence. The court heard he attacked another man in retaliation for being punched in a bar in Eastbourne.
He smashed a bottle on the ground and then jabbed the broken bottle into the victim’s face, leaving him bleeding heavily. Stewart was jailed for a total of seven years and eight months after it was revealed he threatened to stab police after he drove dangerously and crashed his car in a separate incident.
Three and a half years later, he was serving his sentence at HMP Leyhill, in South Gloucestershire, but on Saturday evening, November 9, absconded from the prison.
“Stewart is about 5ft 10ins tall and of medium build with short dark hair. He has names tattooed on his left arm, and the word ‘England’ tattooed on his right arm, as well as tattoos on his hands,” said a spokesperson for Avon and Somerset police.
“He was last seen wearing a black baseball cap, dark-coloured zip-up jumper, dark-coloured jogging bottoms and white trainers. He has links to Eastbourne and Brighton,” she added.
“If you see Steven please don’t approach him. Call 999 at once, quoting reference number 5224295968, or ring 101 with any other information,” she said.