A manhunt is under way for a violent serial mugger who is on the run from an open prison.

Sabul Miah, 40, who is serving two life sentences for brutally robbing at least 15 pensioners, went on the run from Category D prison Standford Hill in Kent on Thursday.

He fled from the same prison as armed robber Michael Wheatley - known as the “Skull Cracker”, who went on the run while on day release in May.

Among Miah's victims was World War Two veteran George Rowe, 79, who had his throat slashed in 2002 as he was robbed of his £123 weekly pension.

Today Mr Rowe's daughter, Patricia McFarlane, hit out at the decision to allow him to serve his sentence in an open prison.

She told the Standard: “I cannot believe it, we’re devastated. It’s taken us all back to the day it happened.

“I can’t believe he was in an open prison to start with, I was never informed.

“What is he doing in an open prison? I do not believe he is remorseful and he is still a danger to society. He has never apologised for what he did.

“What makes it all worse is that my family have a caravan on the Isle of Sheppey where we’ve spent all summer. He could’ve been walking past us and we just wouldn’t know.

Mr Rowe, who worked as an Evening Standard vendor, died from lung cancer four months after the assault.

And Mrs McFarlane, from Stratford, said: “If it wasn’t for Miah, I have no doubt that my father would have lived a lot longer. Towards the end he was scared of life, not death.

“Now I’m just worried about other elderly and vulnerable people he might come into contact with.”

Miah was convicted targeting at least 15 pensioners in East London to feed his drug habit.

He would watch them draw money out of the post office, follow them home and rob them at knife point.

At his trial, Judge Geoffrey Rivlin told Southwark Crown Court: "These were heart-rending offences committed against some of the most vulnerable people in the community without the least sign of mercy. The court will do everything to protect people against such terrible crime."

Convicted armed robber Wheatley, 55, absconded from Standford Hill in May while serving 13 life sentences for violent bank robberies.

He robbed a building society in Surrey at gunpoint before being arrested and handed another life sentence.

Last night, MP Philip Davies, who campaigns against open prisons, said: “You would have thought that the Ministry of Justice would have learned the lessons from the Wheatley experience. They should have tightened the system up straight away at Standford. I will raise this matter with the Secretary of State.”

A Ministry of Justice spokesman said: “We have made major changes to tighten up temporary release processes and open prison eligibility. Absconds have reached record lows.”

Anyone who sees Sabul Miah or knows where he is has been told not to approach him and ring 999.