Police search for absconded prisoner

Daniel O'Loughlin, who has been missing for a month, helped burgle properties in Ramsbury and Chaddleworth

POLICE are searching for a man who has absconded from an open prison after being jailed for several major burglaries in West Berkshire and Wiltshire.

Daniel O'Loughlin, aged 35, failed to return to HMP Hatfield in South Yorkshire after he was given temporary release for a work placement within the community on July 18.

He was serving the final period of a custodial sentence he received for his role in an organised crime group that committed a series of high-profile and high-value burglaries at large country houses across central and western England.

These included Ramsbury Manor in Wiltshire and Woolley Park House in Chaddleworth.

Rambsury Manor was dubbed one of Britain's biggest burglaries after £30m worth of goods were stolen from the home of recluse property tycoon, Harry Hyams in February 2006.

Woolley Park House, the home of the retired Lord Lieutenant of Berkshire, Sir Phillip Wroughton was raided twice in a year and a total of £100,000 of property was stolen.

O'Loughlin also pleaded guilty to offences relating to a ram raid at NatWest West End Road, Mortimer in 2006 where £60,000 cash was stolen and the gang were also responsible for an attempted burglary at Edington House in Inkpen in 2006.

In August 2008, O'Loughlin was sentenced to 11-years in jail and last Wednesday West Mercia Police's Dt Chief Insp Stuart Murphy appealed to the public to help find him.

He is still missing.

Dt Chief Insp Murphy said: "O'Loughlin has been missing for more than a month and we need to find him and return him to prison.

"He has strong links to the Evesham area as well as Tewkesbury, Cheltenham and Berkshire.

Anyone who knows where O'Loughlin is should contact West Mercia Police on 0300 333 3000 or Crimestoppers on anonymously 0800 555111