By Graham Brown

POLICE HAVE warned members of the public not to approach a murderer who has gone on the run from an Angus jail.

Londoner John Thomas Bowden, a prisoner at Noranside, near Forfar, was on temporary release on Thursday but failed to return to the open establishment at the required time.

He was last seen near the Tesco store in the town.

Bowden (51), originally from south London, was sentenced to life at the Old Bailey in 1982 for dismembering a park keeper while he was still alive before decapitating him with a carving knife.

He was imprisoned in England before being transferred to the Scottish Prison Service in 1995. He transferred to Noranside in October, where he was being tested in open conditions.

Police described Bowden as 5ft 7in tall, of medium build, with grey/white receding hair.

He has a fair complexion, deepset blue eyes and a tattoo on his right arm that says Ireland The Brave.

When last seen he was wearing prison issue blue coloured denim jeans.

“Inquiries are under way in an effort to trace him, including local inquiries in the Forfar area and a review of the town’s CCTV systems,” said a police spokesman.

“Tayside Police is also working with British Transport Police and other forces in an effort to trace Bowden’s whereabouts.

“Anyone who sees Bowden should not approach him but should call Tayside Police immediately on 999.”