A killer who absconded from an open prison has been arrested following a police manhunt.

Marcus Coates was last seen near Bristol Bus Station between 8.30am and 9.30am on Thursday. Police issued an appeal – but cautioned members of the public not to approach Coates if they saw him.

On Friday afternoon, Avon and Somerset Police confirmed he had been found and arrested, adding: “We’re grateful to members of the public who shared our appeal and called in with information.”

The 54-year-old man absconded from HMP Leyhill, close to Wotton-under-Edge in Gloucestershire. The jail is about 18 miles from Bristol.

In 2012, Coates was found guilty of the manslaughter of Jennie Banner, 32, who was found dead at a flat in Chatham, Kent.

At the time, the judge described him as “dangerous” and said he had shown no remorse for his crime.

He was last seen wearing a blue polo shirt, blue jacket, blue jeans and grey Puma trainers.

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Coates is described as white and about 5ft 10in tall, with blue eyes and receding mousey brown hair.

He has several tattoos, including his name and a rose on his left hand, a heart and West Ham FC on his right arm and a woman’s name across his knuckles on his right hand.

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