AN escaped prisoner who was part of a gang which carried out a string of armed raids, including one at a Bradford jewellers, is still at large.

Police believe convicted armed robber James Beeston, who absconded from HMP Kirklevington Grange, in Yarm, on Tuesday, February 13, may be in Leeds.

He was sentenced to 10 years in 2013 for his part in a series of armed robberies across West Yorkshire including a £100,000 robbery at the Gold Shop in Wakefield Road, Dudley Hill, which saw three masked men use a machete, sledgehammer and baseball bat to rob the store.

The 28-year-old is originally from East End Park and has connections and associates in east Leeds. He is white, 5ft 8ins tall, with fair/brown hair.

He is not thought to present any immediate risk to the public but anyone who sees him is advised not to approach him and to contact the police on 999 immediately.