A GWENT MP is to ask questions in Parliament over escapes from Prescoed open prison near Usk.

And police revealed today that Paul Meek, 21, missing from Prescoed since February 23, had been taken back into custody in Cwmbran yesterday.

A police spokeswoman said he is currently in pol-ice custody and inquiries were continuing regarding "outstanding offences."

Police had said they wanted to question Meek in connection with a burglary of commercial premises in Cwmbran.

In later editions of yesterday's Argus we revealed how Meek and another man had walked out of Prescoed nearly three weeks ago.

The other prisoner is believed to have left the Gwent police force's area.

The news comes a week after prisons minister Paul Goggins visited Usk residents to reassure them over the government's policy of placing sex offenders in the open prison.

He revealed two more had gone missing but no details were released until yesterday.

Monmouth MP Huw Edwards said: "I was concerned when Paul Goggins said two prisoners absconded.

"Clearly, if that is happening, then the risk assessment process is flawed. I have tabled a question to the minister asking for a statement ."

Meek was less than a year into his sentence when he went missing from Prescoed. He had been sentenced to three years' imprisonment last July for conspiracy to commit burglary.

He was part of a gang of thieves who pleaded guilty to stealing more than 12,000 worth of cigarettes in night raids on stores in Newport, Caerleon, Cwmbran and Croesyceiliog in January and February 2004.