A CONVICTED murderer who kicked a pensioner to death in Hampshire has absconded from an open prison.

Lewis Hoare is one of two prisoners who walked out of Spring Hill Open prison near Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, at around 1pm yesterday.

Thames Valley Police is hunting him and fellow inmate Kenneth Simmonds who is believed to have left the prison with him.

Hoare, 27, was jailed for life in 2007, for his part in kicking to death pensioner Brian Kitching in a random attack in Southsea.

Simmonds, 43, is serving time for malicious wounding.

Hoare is slim and clean shaven with blue eyes, short brown hair, a mole on his right cheek, protruding ears and a tattoo with the word 'Pompy' across his knuckles.

Simmonds, is of medium build, with blue eyes, short brown hair, clean shaven, with a small scar under his left eye and a scar above his right eyebrow.

He has a tattoo of a panther on his left forearm and another of a panther's head on his right forearm.

Senior investigating officer, Detective Inspector Joe Banfield said the force is working closely with the prison service and added: “If any member of the public sees wither Hoare or Simmonds do not approach them, instead call 999.

“If have any information whatsoever about their whereabouts please call us.”

Anyone with information should contact police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online at crimestoppers-uk.org