In Sudbury open prison he lived in a room which was never locked and where he had a TV and a wide choice of food.

There were also gym, snooker and table tennis facilities at his disposal.

A spokesman for the Prison Service commented that the number of prisoners absconding is at its lowest level for the past ten years, at a time when the prison population is increasing.

But a prison officers' leader recently said jails had become so comfortable that some inmates were ignoring chances to escape.

Concern has already been voiced over the suitability of open prisons for some of the inmates they hold.

Earlier this month Harry Fletcher, assistant general secretary of the National Association o...

In Sudbury open prison he lived in a room which was never locked and where he had a TV and a wide choice of food.

There were also gym, snooker and table tennis facilities at his disposal.

A spokesman for the Prison Service commented that the number of prisoners absconding is at its lowest level for the past ten years, at a time when the prison population is increasing.

But a prison officers' leader recently said jails had become so comfortable that some inmates were ignoring chances to escape.

Concern has already been voiced over the suitability of open prisons for some of the inmates they hold.

Earlier this month Harry Fletcher, assistant general secretary of the National Association of Probation Officers, said: "I've certainly been worried for 15-18 months that individuals are being transferred into open jails in England and Wales who pose a risk to the public