Knife killer on the run
A Devon man's being urgently sought after going on the run and is now wanted for recall to prison.
Ashley Drake was in the community on licence - which means he has to keep to certain rules - from a life sentence for stabbing a man in Plymouth in 2004. After serving nearly 14 years, he'd been released on parole and was staying in Bristol overnight on Saturday (28 July) when the probation service lost track of him. He has links to Devon and Bristol.
Mr Drake, who sometimes goes by the name of Francis Drake, given his links to Plymouth, is 5 ft 2 inches tall, slim and has short, dark hair. He'd been jailed for stabbing his lover< John Watt, in the neck in 2004 when he was 22 when he was a heroin addict. He was told he must serve at least 11 years and 67 days. At one stage, he'd claimed that Mr Watt's stab wound was "just a nick" that was self-inflicted.
He'd also been given an additional eight months, to be served at the same time as his life sentence, for trying to escape from Exeter Prison not long after being jailed.
Anyone who sees Mr Drake or has any information as to his current whereabouts is asked to contact police on 101@dc.police.uk or call 101 quoting log 548 of Sunday 29 July. Alternatively, call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
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