Hunt for fugitive sawn-off shotgun burglar with links to West Midlands

An appeal has been launched to find a burglar who carried out a terrifying raid at a family home, as part of a gang which threatened two children. Rhys Allen is on the run from prison, having been sentenced to eight years for his part in a burglary in Cheshire in March 2017.

A gang forced their way into the home in Frodsham and threatened a mum and dad and their two young children with a sawn-off shotgun and a knife before demanding keys to their car parked outside. After getting the keys the men fled the scene, with some fleeing in a getaway car reports our sister title DerbyshireLive.

Allen, formerly of Stanley Park Avenue South in Liverpool, was caught in September that year and linked to the crime. He admitted aggravated burglary and possession of a firearm.

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Now Derbyshire Constabulary is looking to trace Allen after he absconded from HMP Sudbury in the county. The 30-year-old left the open prison on Sunday, October 20, at around 4.15am. West Midlands Police shared the appeal. He was described as white, around 5ft 10ins tall, slim and with brown eyes'

He was said to have links to the West Midlands as well as a number of other areas around the country including Merseyside, Cheshire, Dyfed-Powys, North Wales, Thames Valley, South Yorkshire, Leicestershire, and Northamptonshire.

Anyone who sees him was urged to contact Derbyshire Police by calling 101 and quoting reference number: 184-201024. The force can also be direct messaged on the Derbyshire Constabulary Facebook page, on X or message the contact centre using the @DerPolContact account.