POLICE hunting an escaped murderer are confident he will be caught.

John Paul Mason, 37, absconded from Wealstun Open Prison, Wetherby, on Friday.

He was sentenced to life in prison in 1988 for stabbing bachelor Frank Elesender to death in South Shields.

Detectives have been warned by the Prison Service that Mason could be heading to South Shields, where his partner and children still live.

It is believed he has made contact by telephone with family, friends and associates in the North-East.

Detective Constable Paul Richardson said last night: "We should be able to pick up tracks of that and eventually pinpoint a certain place.

"From information we have received already, we believe he is heading for the South Tyneside area, particularly South Shields, and the reason behind that is he has family members up here.

"We don't believe he does pose any danger to members of the public, however we must stress that if he is seen he is not to be approached and the police are to be contacted."

Mason is 5ft 8in, slim, with short brown hair, and he has a number of distinctive tattoos.

These include a butterfly on his left temple, a spider on his right temple, the name Steve on his throat, a rose on the right side of his neck, and a spider on the left side of his neck.

Anyone with information is urged to call South Shields CID on 0191-454 7555.