Convict back behind bars
An escaped prisoner who was caught at a house in Shropshire after being on the run from police for nearly a month will serve the rest of his lengthy jail term in a closed prison.
But no further charges will be brought against David Alan Price, of Wem, who was at large until Thursday after failing to return to Sudbury Prison, in Derbyshire, on February 18.
Police officers and dog handlers swooped on a house in Whitchurch to arrest the 32-year-old who had been on the run since absconding.
He was serving a seven-and-a-half-year sentence for drugs offences.
Police spokesman Richard Ewels said Price, who was in custody yesterday at Shrewsbury Police Station, would not face any further charges.
He said: "David Alan Price is going to be recalled to prison and was to be collected and delivered to the Dana, in Shrewsbury, from custody last night." Price will serve out the rest of his sentence at a closed prison, possibly in Shrewsbury.
The hunt to capture Price came to an end when officers staged a raid at a house in the Whitchurch area.
Inspector Neil Spencer, north Shropshire police chief, confirmed the operation had taken place as a result of intelligence received by officers and added there had been no forced entry to the property.
Although there had been no evidence to suggest Price would return to the north Shropshire area, his last known address was in Wem.
He was sent to HMP Sudbury after being convicted of playing a part in a major drugs ring involved in smuggling cocaine worth around £250,000.
He was one of nine people caught by West Mercia Constabulary as part of Operation Bountiful, which was launched in 2002.
The latest figures reveal than 660 inmates have gone missing from Sudbury in the past 10 years - including five convicted killers in the last five months.
By Oliver Cartwright
