POLICE are hunting a man who  is suspected of hiding from officers after allegedly breaching  the terms of his prison release.

Officers want to trace Ashley  Prout and have released his  photograph in a bid to locate  him and return him to prison.

The 21-year-old is understood  to have strong links with the  city and police believe he may  be staying in Exeter.

Prout was jailed for theft offences in October last year and  was serving a prison term at  HMP Channing’s Wood, near  Newton Abbot, until his early  release  this month.

But he is alleged to have failed  to comply with the terms of his  licence and is now sought by  police. The details of the suspected breach have not been  released to the Echo.

Police are keen to hear from  anyone who may have had recent contact with Prout, who  recently lived at an address  close to the city centre, and have  urged anyone with information  about his whereabouts to contact the force.

Devon and Cornwall Probation service have now issued a  prison recall, making Prout arrestable on sight.

PC Kirsty Saundercock said:  “Ashley Prout failed to comply  with the conditions of his early  release and is being sought by  officers.

“He was recently released  from prison after serving a term  of imprisonment for theft-related offences.

“He failed to comply with the  terms of his licence and on  March 3 Devon and Cornwall  Probation service issued a prison recall making him arrestable  on sight.”

PC Saundercock added that  officers were chasing several  lines of enquiry in a bid to track  down Prout.

 “The police are proactively  following a number of lines of  enquiry to ascertain his current  location.

 “Police intend to arrest and  return him to prison once he  has been located.

 “Prout has strong links to Exeter and knows numerous  friends and family who reside  within the city. And he recently  lived in an address very close to  the city centre.”

Prout is described as white,  around 5ft 11ins tall, of slim  build with short dark brown  hair.

 He is clean shaven and speaks  with a Westcountry accent. He  has a Celtic tattoo on the back of  his neck.

Police are appealing for anyone who has had recent contact  with him to come forward and  assist with their enquiries by  contacting Devon and Cornwall  police on 08452 777444 quoting  log 786 of March 3 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800  555111.