A PRISONER desperate to be reunited with his young child and lover is on the run this week after fleeing police in a dramatic chase.

Scott Stockbridge absconded from Springhill Prison, an open facility in Aylesbury, Bucks on November 2, after serving fewer than four months of a two-and-a-half year sentence for robbery.

Police had no clue as to his whereabouts until he was spotted in a vehicle heading towards Bedfont by a Spelthorne police officer just before 11.30am on Thursday last week.

The panic-stricken outlaw ran from the vehicle, deserting leaving his lover and small child, and fleeing in the direction of Staines Road, Bedfont.

Spelthorne Police immediately cordoned off the road so they could thoroughly search the area, while a helicopter circled the immediate vicinity.

According to an eyewitness, who asked to remain nameless for fear of repercussions, Stockbridge was desperate to escape the confines of his cell to see his beloved daughter and girlfriend.

The woman said that faced with the prospect of barely getting to see her or his girlfriend for the next two years the man decided to break out.

She added that he was seen by the police when he had them both in his car and was forced to abandon it and run.

A spokeswoman for Staines Police said: "I can confirm that an officer spotted Scott Stockbridge and we immediately launched a search of the area but were unable to locate him. The arrest of a woman was made at the same time."

She added: "We believe that he is frequenting the Spelthorne and Elmbridge areas and would advise any member of the public that knows of his possible whereabouts or believes they have spotted him to contact us."

However, according to a spokeswoman for the Home Office, it would not have been difficult for the 23-year-old to escape.

She said: "Springhill is an open prison with minimum security and only houses inmates who are categorised as being very unlikely to flee or who pose little threat to public safety."

Members of the public are advised not to try and apprehend him if seen, but to call police immediately on 01784 450261.

By.Sherelle Folkes