Fergie's ex-aide Andrews flees prison

LONDON, Nov. 24 (UPI) -- A former aide to Sarah Ferguson, the Duchess of York, has fled from a British prison where she was serving a murder sentence, officials say.

Jane Andrews, 40, was serving a life sentence for the 2001 murder of her boyfriend when she absconded Sunday from East Sutton Park open prison in Maidstone, Kent, The Guardian reported.

A spokesman for the British prison service told the newspaper decisions to move detainees such as Andrews to open prisons are made by an independent parole board. Andrews was transferred to East Sutton in July after previously serving time in an open prison in Yorkshire, the newspaper said.

"Police have been informed and are assisting with the search," the spokesman added.

Andrews was convicted of killing Thomas Cressman in revenge for refusing to marry her. Police said she hit the wealthy businessman in the head with a cricket bat and stabbed him through the chest with a kitchen knife in their London home.

The Guardian said Ferguson left voice-mails for Andrews urging her to surrender after she fled following the slaying. Police said they found Andrews in a car in Cornwall four days later.