CONCERNED detectives have appealed for the escaped convicted killer of Quinton student Kevin Ricketts to hand himself in.

West Mercia Police held a press conference this afternoon and released a “wanted” poster of Alan Giles.

Detective chief inspector Paul Judge said: “I am making a direct appeal to Alan Giles to hand himself to the nearest police station or phone 999 immediately.”

The family of Kevin Ricketts, who Giles kidnapped and killed in 1995, have been warned Giles is on the loose and have been told to stay indoors until he has been apprehended.

West Midlands Police are working to safeguard the family and have also been in touch with Giles relatives.

The public have been urged not to approach Giles but to phone 999 immediately if spotted.

DSI Judge said: “We can not underestimate that he was convicted in 1995 of kidnap and murder.

“We are concerned about his welfare and state of mind of Alan Giles. One of the hypothesis we are working on is that he might harm himself.

Giles, aged 56 and formerly of Odlbury, escaped from Hewell Prison, Redditch on Monday morning between 6am and 11am.

He was a category D prisoner and was eligible for parole in 2014 and had been allowed out of prison on release before he decided to escape the open part of the prison.

Giles is described as white, 5 ft 9 inches in height and of proportionate build, with short grey hair and blue eyes. He has a scar on the right of his forehead and another small one by his left eye. He has tattoos of an eagle on his back and a swallow, shark and flower on his left arm.

He is believed to be wearing a grey Rockport sweater, blue jeans and white Asics trainers.

Giles has had recent contact with family in the West Midlands and most of his friends and associates are in the same area.