Police have arrested convicted murderer Craig Black, who absconded from an open prison on Monday.

Black, who was jailed for life in 1995, was found in Gloucester shortly after 11am today.

He left HMP Leyhill in South Gloucestershire on Monday afternoon having been transferred to the prison this month.

Sergeant Barry Reed, of the Marlborough Neighbourhood Police, said: “Obviously this brings a lot of memories back to a lot of people and our team were concentrating on reducing community fears and those of people who were involved at the time and making sure suitable protection was in place.”

Black, formerly of Homefields, Marlborough, was jailed for life at Bristol Crown Court in July 1995 after a jury convicted him of murdering 22-year-old Perry Shiels, a radio operator who served on the royal yacht, HMS Britannia.

Mr Shiels, from Birmingham, was a popular figure beloved by his family, whose death still hangs over his loved ones despite the passage of time, the High Court was told.

He suffered devastating brain damage when the back of his skull struck a brick wall as he was punched by Black, then aged 21.

Black's co-accused, Michael Trotman, was cleared of murder over the August 1994 attack, but convicted of manslaughter for which he received a five-year term.

Mr Shiels had been out drinking with friends in Marlborough on the night of his death, and was attacked by the duo after walking alone at midnight down Figgins Lane.

The trial judge concluded that Black had twice struck Mr Shiels, with the second punch ramming the sailor's head back against the wall. He struck out with an intention to cause really serious harm.