Two a week walk out of jail

The shock figures have emerged following the disappearance of a convicted burglar from the jail near Arundel.

Police took the rare step of alerting the public to Ricky Colbourn's disappearance but most cases go unreported to the media.

One exception was Jonathan Raynor, who was jailed for trying to kill a policeman and absconded in the summer.

The 27-year-old, described as dangerous by police, is still missing six months later.

Ford, near Littlehampton, has been dubbed the Escape Club by some insiders while the tabloid press has labelled it Butlins because of its cricket pitch, football pitch and well-stocked library.

But even these creature comforts do not appear to provide the necessary impetus to keep the convicts inside their unlocked cells.

Those who are returned to the criminal justice system find themselves serving the rest of their sentences behind bars.

Last year around 60 prisoners wandered off. Bosses were pleased they had cut the average from around 90 a year.

Category D Ford, which counts former MI5 officer David Shayler, former Guinness chairman Ernest Saunders and footballer George Best among its alumni, works on trust.

Inmates are free to come and go providing they attend roll calls and sleep at the jail.

Prison governor Ken Kan declined to be interviewed.

Prison spokesman Mick Kemp said inmates who did choose to go on the run rather than serve out their time at Ford faced being sent to a harsher institution when the authorities caught up with them.

He said: "Each year an average of 90 inmates abscond from Ford. Our record for absconders is quite good compared to other open prisons like Kirkham.

"Inmates leave for a number of reasons but it is mostly outside pressures - family problems, mostly."

Mr Kemp said: "Yes, we have a football pitch and a cricket pitch and a well-stocked library but it is unfair to say Ford Open Prison is a holiday camp.

"Part of our role is rehabilitation and the inmates are here on trust."