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A former royal aide who absconded from prison while serving a life sentence for murder is not a danger to the public, police have insisted.
Jane Andrews, who was sentenced to life for killing her boyfriend Tom Cressman, failed to return to East Sutton Park prison in Kent on Sunday night.
Officers described the Duchess of York's former dresser as vulnerable, with her disappearance coming days after an apparent suicide attempt.
'We have no information to suggest she is a threat to the general public,' Kent Police Assistant Chief Constable Andy Adams said.
But he added: 'However, we must be mindful that in 2000 she was convicted of murder.'
Andrews, who was only moved to East Sutton Park on November 18, was reported missing from the jail after she was last seen at 7pm on Sunday.
'She is in an open prison, her access in and out of the prison is a matter for the Prison Service,' said Mr Adams, when asked how the killer managed to escape.
'You can read into that her free movement in and out of the prison affords her more opportunity than in a closed prison.'
He said there was only a short period of time between when Andrews was last seen and when police were told she was missing.
'We are becoming increasingly concerned for Jane's welfare and would urge anyone who has any information that will help us locate her safe and well to come forward,' he added.
Andrews, who worked for Sarah, Duchess of York, for nine years until 1997, was convicted of murdering wealthy businessman Mr Cressman at the house they shared in Fulham, southwest London.
She was ordered to serve a minimum of 12 years in jail after a jury accepted the prosecution case that she killed him in revenge because he refused to marry her.
An appeal against her conviction was thrown out in 2003 along with claims that Mr Cressman had abused and raped her.
A spokeswoman for the Duchess said: 'She's been informed but is not making a comment.'
Andrews, 42, is described as slim, with a fair complexion and very long straight brown hair.
She was wearing a long-sleeved black and white striped top, black jeans, a black bodywarmer and black Skechers trainers when she disappeared.
