A thug jailed for his role in the fatal stabbing of a student in the Black Country has absconded from an open prison in Derbyshire, police said today.

Ashley James was locked up for 10 years over the death of 21-year-old Uriel Johnson, who was fatally stabbed in Bilston in July 2007.

James, now aged 26, of Hailes Park Close in Parkfields, was found guilty of manslaughter after a trial at Wolverhampton Crown Court in May 2008.

His cousin Errol Price, 27, of All Saints Road, admitted murder and was jailed for life with a minimum term of 14 years.

Today Derbyshire Police said James absconded from HMP Sudbury on Monday.

A spokeswoman said: “His last-known addresses are in Blackpool and Wolverhampton.

“Anyone with information about his whereabouts is asked not to approach him but to immediately contact their local police.”

Mr Johnson, of Darlaston, was due to study construction at Wolverhampton College. But he died in New Cross Hospital 10 days after he was stabbed through the heart by Price, formerly of All Saints Road.

Wolverhampton Crown Court heard how Mr Johnson was knifed three days after a row had broken out at The Otter and Vixen pub in Bushbury.

Uriel was on the opposite side of the argument to James and Price and during this incident he received a minor stab wound in the back.

James and Price picked up black eyes and facial injuries.

Violence flared again at the hospital.

Three days later Uriel, who wanted to be an architect, left Wolverhampton College’s campus in Wellington Road, Bilston, as James drove by.

James collected his cousin and their search of the area ended when Price found Uriel and stabbed him.

The victim was chased by the knifeman and James before he lost them. But he was later discovered in a garden by a passer-by and taken to hospital.

Price and James went on the run after the murder but were caught in London.

At the time James was serving a suspended sentence and had previous convictions for wounding with a knife and carrying a knife.