A CONVICTED robber escaped from HMP Hewell because he feared for his safety after telling authorities about drink and drug use.

Liam Reid was given an indeterminate sentence in March, 2007, after he was convicted of a street robbery.

The sentence carried a minimum of 15 months but he was still in prison in September last year when he was moved to Block A, an open dormitory at the Tardebigge prison.

He found alcohol and drugs were being brought in for other inmates, Worcester Crown Court heard.

Tiernan Davis defending, said Reid and another prisoner on an indeterminate sentence were worried because any association with drink and drugs could have affected their parole.

The other inmates were on shorter, clearly defined sentences and when Reid made it clear to them he didn't want the items brought in, he faced threats.

He contacted the prison authorities, without naming names, but when nothing was done, he made the "foolish" decision to walk out, Mr Davis said.

Reid went back to the area he came from, Rugby, in Warwickshire, because his father had been taken ill and was in hospital.

He went to visit him and then handed himself in on October 4 at the local police station.

Reid admitted escaping from custody and Recorder Martin Jackson sentenced him to a further six months in jail.