A FRAUDSTER who absconded from Prescoed open prison last month is back in custody after giving himself up yesterday.

Gareth John Tuvnes, who was jailed for 27 months in August for conspiracy to steal and obtaining property by deception from customers at the Celtic Manor Hotel, where he worked as a pool attendant, went missing from the prison on September 23.

Gwent Police issued an appeal to anyone with information about the 24-year-old's whereabouts and said he was also wanted in connection with the theft of six post bags since his escape.

A police spokeswoman issued a statement yesterday to say Tuvnes, of St Michael's Street, Newport, was now back in custody.

She said: "He surrendered himself to police officers in Newport central police station at 1pm. Police are now interviewing him in connection with a number of incidents that have occurred in the Newport area. He will be returned to closed conditions after questioning to continue his sentence."

We revealed yesterday, in an exclusive interview with the prison's governor Phillip Morgan, that 13 prisoners have escaped from Prescoed in the last six months.

These included child rapist Robert Neil Stokes, who walked out of the prison on October 7.

Stokes was discovered less than 24 hours later, by a member of staff, just yards from the prison, with a broken ankle.

The escapes have been used as ammunition by local campaigners who have been protesting against sex offenders being kept at the open prison.