Vincent Raymond Lee was sentenced to life imprisonment
Police in Derbyshire are appealing for information after Lee failed to return to prison(Image: Derbyshire Police )
The family of a murder victim have been “torn apart” after the man convicted of the ‘horrific’ murder failed to return to prison.
Derbyshire Police has issued an appeal for information finding Vincent Raymond Lee who failed to return to HMP Sudbury on Thursday, August 7, WalesOnline reports. He had been granted permission to temporarily leave the open prison.
Lee was sentenced to life imprisonment for murder at Swansea Crown Court in April 1987. Lee killed Ann Worrell, 43, at her home in Galon Uchaf, Merthyr Tydfil in June 1986.
He had dragged her unconscious body to her bed and set it alight. She had woken mid-attack and the prosecutor at the trial said she suffered an “horrific death”.
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Lee had, newspaper reports at the time showed, considered Ms Worrell to be like his “own mother” and was grandmother to his child.
Reports from the time say the judge told him he would serve a minimum of 15 years. “This was in itself an horrific crime, and it was the result of an evil act on your part,” Judge Anthony Evans told him. “Setting fire to that house was not only sufficient to kill Ann Worrell it also created a risk to neighbouring houses. And, as such, the way you killed her was one deserving of extra punishment,” he said.
The judge told him he was “an absolute menace to the community in which you lived”.
In 2018, Lee was released on licence from HMP Cardiff but breached his licence conditions and was recalled back to prison.
Now, Ann’s family say they are “terrified”.
Derbyshire Police has asked for help finding him after the convicted murdered failed to HMP Sudbury on Thursday, August 7. Stay informed on everything Merthyr Tydfil by signing up to our newsletter here
Ann’s daughter, Mandy told WalesOnline: “The family are torn apart by this news again as he absconded seven years ago. I wouldn’t want another family to go through what me and my family has been through over the years.
“It’s terrifying for us knowing that he is still on the run somewhere.”
Vincent Lee, 63 is described as white and 5ft 5ins tall. He is bald on top with grey hair on the sides and was last seen wearing a blue t-shirt, grey Nike tracksuit bottoms, black boots and blue and black glasses.
Derbyshire Police said: “We are appealing for information after a convict failed to return to HMP Sudbury.
“Vincent Lee did not return to the open prison on Thursday 7 August after a period of temporary release on licence. He is serving a life sentence for murder.”