A manhunt is underway for a gangster who escaped from a UK prison

A manhunt is underway for a notorious gangster who escaped from an English prison. Police are looking for Daniel Gee, who escaped from custody earlier this week.

The 44-year-old escaped from Kirklevington Prison in North Yorkshire on Monday 27 May. The prison is a Category D open-air facility, the LiverpoolEcho reports.

He was jailed indefinitely after an undercover investigation caught him conspiring to buy guns and threatening to kill a teenager who in 2008 had shot him during a New Year’s confrontation. Gee was also a leading member of a gang that “turned a Merseyside property into an open-air drug market”, said to operate 24 hours a day.

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The investigation into Gee’s disappearance is being conducted by Cleveland Police. A spokesman for Cleveland Police said: “Daniel is described as a white male with a large build, approximately 6ft tall and bald.

“He was last seen wearing a black jumpsuit, black Adidas trousers with a white stripe down each leg and black trainers. He was carrying a yellow JD Sports bag. It is believed to have links to the North Yorkshire area, including Whitby, Carlisle, St. Helens and Merseyside.”

The force added: “Anyone who has seen Daniel Gee or may know his current whereabouts is asked to call Cleveland Police on 101 quoting reference number 098852.”

Gee’s status was confirmed last night by the Ministry of Justice. A Prison Service spokesman said: “All prisoners in Category D prisons are rigorously assessed for risk and escapes are rare. Offenders who break the rules are punished and face additional time behind bars and we are working with the police to recapture this inmate. “

A breakout is an escape that does not involve overcoming a physical security constraint. According to the Prison and Probation Service, Category D prisons are minimum security and allow eligible inmates to spend most of their day away from prison on license to pursue work, education or other resettlement purposes. If an offender fails an open prison, they are not allowed to return to an open prison for at least two years.

Gee was jailed for plotting to arm himself after making death threats against a 16-year-old gunman. Gee was seriously injured after he was shot, which happened outside an Anfield pub in the early hours, with one of the bullets going through his stomach and lung before exiting the back.

He was taken to hospital after the shooting but refused treatment but was described as being in severe amounts of pain and trauma after the “unprovoked” attack. In an October 2009 trial, Gee was found guilty of two counts of making threats to kill and two counts of blackmail.

Gee, formerly of Maryport Close, Everton, admitted conspiracy to possess firearms and ammunition. Prosecutor Ian Unsworth KC said Gee’s desire for revenge “knew no bounds”.

Gee received an indefinite prison sentence and was ordered to serve at least four years behind bars before his case could be considered by the parole board. The sentence ran concurrently with a seven-and-a-half-year sentence he was serving for drug offences.

Gee’s lawyer argued during the trial that his client was “frankly terrified” at the thought of an indeterminate sentence and that he only conspired to arm himself because he feared another confrontation. He claimed Gee was targeted because of his underworld surname and revealed his biggest fear was receiving an indefinite sentence as he believed he would never be released.

But the then Recorder of Liverpool, Judge Henry Globe KC, said: “I have no doubt that the public must be protected from you in the future. I really don’t know when it will be safe to release you.”