A VIOLENT criminal who went missing from prison has been found by police.

Dean Evans was thought to be heading back to Hampshire after absconding from an open prison near Bristol.

The 36-year-old had originally been jailed after threatening to kill a mum and her young children at their flat in Southampton.

He was released from jail, but then sent back to prison in 2011 after breaking the conditions of his release.

He was at Leyhill Open Prison when he escaped last Monday.

Police had said they believed he may be heading back to Southampton, where his family live.That led his mother to issue an emotional plea for him to give himself up.

But he was arrested yesterday in the village of Alveston, South Gloucestershire.

He was charged this morning with escaping lawful custody, and is appearing at North Avon Magistrates' Court this afternoon.