Man who killed Sunderland mother absconds from prison in Derbyshire

A "maniac" driver who was jailed for life for mowing down and killing a Sunderland school dinner lady has absconded from an open prison.

Alan Paul Steel left HMP Sudbury in Derbyshire at around 1.15am on Tuesday 31 May, police said.

The 41-year-old had a string of driving convictions, including dangerous driving and driving while disqualified, before ploughing into 32-year-old Paula Stead in September 2006.

The car also struck her 11-year-old daughter Bridie and her cousin's ten-year-old daughter Danica Green, who later had to have her right leg amputated below the knee.

Mrs Stead suffered catastrophic injuries and died shortly after being struck when Steel lost control of a 4X4 Jeep on St Luke's Road, Sunderland.

She was carried along the road on on the bonnet and windscreen of the car, then "left to die".

Commenting on the incident, the sentencing judge at Newcastle Crown Court in January 2007 said it was "as bad a case of causing death by dangerous driving that it has ever been my misfortune to come across".

The court heard witnesses later told police he had been "driving like a maniac".

Steel, previously residing in Sunderland, was handed an indefinite sentence for public protection after admitting causing death by dangerous driving, driving while disqualified and a string of related motoring offences.

The judge ordered he should serve a minimum of five years before being considered for parole.

At his sentencing hearing, the judge told him: "You are a thoroughly amoral individual with no regard for others.

"You are a complete menace to the community."

The search is on for Steel, with Derbyshire Police describing him as: White, 6ft tall, clean shaven and with brown hair and green eyes.

The force have asked anyone who has seen Steel, or believes they know of his current location, to contact them.