A ROBBER who attacked a taxi driver at knife point is the latest inmate to abscond from Sudbury prison.

Mark Bracewell was jailed for seven years in 2007 for the attack – but failed to return to the open jail on Monday after temporary leave.

At the time of his case, Derby Crown Court heard that jobless Bracewell, 32, robbed Mohammed Khan while out on licence from jail for another offence.

Mr Khan told the court that Bracewell had become angry during a journey and said "it is like this" before pulling a knife out of his pocket. He said the robber pushed the knife into the side of his ribcage before demanding cash. Mr Khan said he then handed over his money bag, containing £90, and the robber ran off.

After Bracewell was jailed, Mr Khan, who worked for Chad Cars, said he hoped the sentence would make life safer for taxi drivers.

Yesterday, Gary Matkin, managing director of Chad Cars, said: "The safety of the drivers is always a concern. It is worrying that someone like this can just walk out of prison and is back on the streets."

Bracewell, of Friar Gate Court, Derby, denied robbery but was found guilty after a two-day trial. The jury returned a unanimous verdict.

During the trial, Bracewell claimed mistaken identity. His fingerprint was found on a door of a taxi but he said this must have happened when he earlier asked for the time. But he was picked out at an identity parade by Mr Khan.

He is black, 5ft11ins, fat, balding, with black hair, brown eyes and a northern accent. He has a small birth mark on the end of his nose. His last known address was in Derby but has connections to Manchester, Nottingham and Rotherham.

Anyone with information is asked to call Derbyshire police on 0345 123 3333 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.