A MURDERER, who tied up his girlfriend and drowned her in the bath in their Huddersfield home, is on the run.

A nationwide manhunt has been launched for fugitive David Mitchell, of Almondbury.

Mitchell, 44, absconded from Kirkham Prison, near Preston, on July 31, after leaving the open jail for a work placement.

In 1991 Mitchell was jailed for life for binding the arms and legs of his partner Kathleen McKenzie before drowning her at their home on Westgate, Almondbury, a year earlier.

Ms McKenzie, 28, had left Mitchell for a women’s refuge in 1990 but returned some months later to live with him.

Mitchell, who fled to Scarborough following the murder, told police he had killed Ms McKenzie in a rage after she told him she had started a relationship with another man.

Before he fled Mitchell, who too was having an affair at the time, is alleged to have told his lover he could kill Ms McKenzie and ‘shove her down the cellar’.

Ms McKenzie’s body was later found in the cellar of their home.

Mitchell was last seen in Blackburn at around 11.30am on the day he absconded from prison.

While his current whereabouts is unknown it is thought Mitchell may be back in Huddersfield as he has links here.

He is described as white, 5ft 6in, of medium build with brown cropped, receding hair and blue eyes.

Det Supt Andy Murphy, of Lancashire Police, said: “I would appeal to anyone who knows where David Mitchell is to come forward and contact the police immediately.

“At this stage I do not believe that members of the public are at risk but it is important that he is located and returned to custody as soon as possible.

“If anyone has any information then I would appeal to them to get in touch. Even the smallest details could prove crucial as we try to locate him.”

Kirkham is a category D training prison occupying the site of a former RAF technical training centre at Kirkham, near Preston, Lancashire.

The facility was taken over by the Home Office in the early 1960’s and has been in use as a prison since 1962.

It is licensed to hold about 590 prisoners, most of them in single rooms although there are still some shared dormitories.

Any sightings of Mitchell should be reported to Lancashire Police on 101 quoting log reference: LC-20120801-0313 – or by calling Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.